Dan Connolly

Britton gets save as AL wins All Star Game, 4-2

By Dan Connolly

Posted on July 12, 2016

The Orioles didn’t do much offensively in the 2016 All Star Game, but in the end, Zach Britton and Matt Wieters were shaking hands on the Petco Park mound as the American League won, 4-2.

Britton, who has converted all 27 of his save opportunities in the regular season, came on with a two-run lead and allowed a single up the middle to Washington’s Daniel Murphy to begin the ninth.

But, throwing to his usual battery-mate, Wieters, Britton induced a comebacker from Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt and then a double play off the bat of Colorado’s Nolan Arenado to end the night. He threw 15 pitches, 12 for strikes.

Britton became the first Oriole in 30 years to close out the Midsummer Classic since Don Aase in 1986.

Britton’s bullpen-mate, Brad Brach, did not pitch, but the other three Orioles did appear in the game.

Third baseman Manny Machado started and went hitless in three at-bats, but made a nice play in the field. Wieters struck out in both of his at-bats and Mark Trumbo, playing left field, was 0-for-1, but reached base on an error by Los Angeles Dodgers’ shortstop Corey Seager.

Kansas City first baseman Eric Hosmer won the MVP Award with a solo homer and a RBI single. The American League, which will get home-field advantage in the World Series, has won four straight All Star Games and 16 of the last 20.