TSTBL: Western League Fights Back For All-Star Win

[Driver 8]

FARGO (AP) - Although it took a couple of late-inning comebacks, the Western League all-stars have prevailed in the mid-season classic for the fourth time in five seasons.

Early on it seemed it would once again be all WL as Portland starter Shawn Chacon retired the side in order in the first and Colorado Springs' Jay Gibbons laced a two-run double in the bottom of the frame to quickly stake the WL to a 2-0 lead.

Unlike previous contests, the Eastern League did not roll over as Toledo catcher Stephen Wilcoxson blasted a 363-foot homer to lead off the second to cut the lead in half. Chacon proceeded right back to work and fanned Morgan Ensberg, Andrew Jones and Alex Escobar to end the inning.

With EL starter Chris Capuano still on the mound in the bottom of the second, Orlando Hudson hit a triple down the right-field line that scored Roberto Ortiz, who had previously singled. Capuano then struck out Gustavo Saenz to strand Hudson on third.

In his third inning, Chacon walked Antonio Hernandez to lead off the inning, but was saved by a slick 3-6-3 double play, before striking out Cristian Guzman to end the inning.

In the bottom of the third, Eric Chavez singled and then scored when Gibbons laced a double to right. Gibbons was nailed at third when EL rightfielder Todd Linden's bullet-like throw one-hopped and beat him to the bag by two steps.

The score remained 4-1 until the top of the fifth when the EL exploded for four runs. Pinch-hitter Michael Cuddyer knocked Brandon Claussen's first pitch of the inning 444-feet to deep left-center to open the inning. Miguel Tejada, also pinch-hitting, followed with a single, as did Luis Padron. Following a Guzman strikeout, Charlotte's Adam Dunn doubled down the rightfield line to score both Cuddyer and Tejada and tie the game at four apiece. The final run of the inning was scored when Ensberg lined a single to center to score Dunn.

After the WL failed to score in the bottom of the frame, WL manager Jesse Perrigo brought Kerry Wood on to start the sixth, and he immediately walked pinch-hitter Ruben Mateo. Wood then quickly dispatched Cuddyer and Tejada before walking Padron. Wood appeared to be out of the jam when he got Albert Pujols to ground to second, but Hudson's throw pulled Eric Munson off the bag to load the bases. Dunn followed with a walk to force in a run, giving the EL a 6-4 lead, but rookie sensation Koyie Hill hit a high, short fly to center to end the inning, stranding three.

The score held until the bottom of the seventh when Hudson singled off Norbert Khoury to lead off the inning. Saenz then walked to put two aboard for 2005 Commissioner's Award winner Michael Preble, who feebly fanned for the first out. With designated hitter Garrett Atkins at the plate, Khoury bounced his first pitch in front of the plate and both runners advanced as the ball rolled to the backstop. Atkins the proceeded to double off the wall in rightfield, scoring both runners to tie the game at six. The next batter, Milton Bradley, grounded to second, advancing Atkins. Carlos Pena's subsequent double put the WL back on top 7-6, and capped the scoring in the inning.

Showing there was some fight left in the club, the EL tied the game when a Pujols groundout advanced Padron to second following a one-out walk. Dunn brought Padron home with a two-out single to right-center, but the EL could manage no more as a deep drive by Hill was caught at the track to end the inning.

With Toledo ace Francesco Santoro on the mound, major league homerun leader Drew Henson lined a single to left-center to open the eighth. Fellow Las Vegas all-star Pedro Martinez fanned following a runner-advancing passed ball to bring Hudson to the plate. With a full-count, all-star MVP Hudson lined a single down the first base line just under the glove of a diving Cuddyer. Despite a bad jump on the pitch, Henson never paused rounding third and slid under Hill's tag despite a great throw from Mateo in right. Santoro quickly dispatched the next two hitters but the damage was done as the WL had taken the 8-7 lead.

Winning pitcher Jacob Peavey stayed in the game to start the ninth and retired the side unevently to give the WL squad the victory.

Complete TSTBL All-Star history can be found here.