1997 All-Star Game
The American League was still suffering from the previous year's shutout and was determined to make a comeback in Cleveland. They got their wish due to the late-game heroics of Indians catcher Sandy Alomar, Jr., who thrilled his hometown fans with a two-run, game-deciding home run in the seventh inning. A repeat of the '95 classic, the National League hitters managed only three hits off of eight American League pitchers. Both teams traded solo home runs with Seattle's Edgar Martinez hitting one in the second inning and Atlanta's Javier Lopez becoming the eleventh player to homer in his first All-Star game at-bat in the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Bernie Williams drew a one-out walk from the Giants Shawn Estes. One out later, Alomar became the first All-Star to earn Most Valuable Player honors in his home ballpark when he blasted an Estes pitch into the left field bleachers. The American League was back and they were only getting started.
|