Wilmington Blue Rocks pitcher Sugar Ray Marimon earned the victory, as the Carolina League defeated the California League, 9-1 in their All-Star Game in Winston-Salem Tuesday night.
Marimon threw a scoreless 4th inning, as the host team broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 4th inning with three runs. Marimon threw just 13 pitches as he struck out two. Blue Rocks teammate Yordano Ventura followed him with a scoreless 5th inning. He walked one (Rico Noel), who then stole two bases but was left stranded.
Travis Shaw of Salem hit a two-run homerun in the 5th inning. He won the game’s “Top Star” award. The host team’s Brady Shoemaker went 2-for-4. Salem’s Jackie Bradley Jr (who led off and played all nine innings in centerfield) was promoted to Double-A Portland following the game.
Others of note in the California League: Billy Hamilton of Bakersfield (Cincinnati Reds) went 1-for-5 and of course stole two bases (he has 80 during the regular season), but also struck out three times. Hamilton won the game’s “Top Star” award for his league. Former Carolina Leaguer Miles Head (he played for Salem last season) went 1-for-4 (he is now with the Oakland A’s).
*Check out the AP photos HERE. To me, some look like mugshots.
The Midwest League All-Star Game was hosted by Kane County, but the visiting side (East) won 18-2. It was 13-0 after the second inning.
Cougars teammates Jorge Bonifacio and Lane Adams started for the West squad in the outfield and batted 3-4 in the lineup. They unfortunately went 0-for-5. Daniel Mateo, who was a late addition to the squad, came off the bench and went 0-for-2 and flied out to end the game.
Cougars reliever Matt Ridings struck out the only batter he faced on just three pitches to end the 5th inning.
The East hit three homeruns, all over the first two innings.
Cleveland Indians prospect, shortstop Francisco Lindor, led off for the East and went 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. Five other East squad teammates had multi-hit games.
For the West, only Jamal Austin (of the Seattle Mariners) and Greg Hopkins (of the Milwaukee Brewers) had multi-hit games.
*The Blue Rocks begin the second half on the road in Carolina beginning Thursday night. The Cougars begin their second half in Clinton on Friday.
