Dan Connolly

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

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.

CONTINUE READING BELOW

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.

Dan Connolly

Dan Connolly has spent more than two decades as a print journalist in Pennsylvania and Maryland. The Baltimore native and Calvert Hall graduate first covered the Orioles as a beat writer for the York (Pennsylvania) Daily Record in 2001 before becoming The Baltimore Sun’s national baseball writer/Orioles reporter in 2005. He has won multiple state and national writing awards, including several from the Associated Press Sports Editors. In 2013 he was named Maryland Co-Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. And in 2015, he authored his first book, "100 Things Orioles Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die." He lives in York, with his wife, Karen, and three children, Alex, Annie, and Grace.

View Comments

Share
Published by
Dan Connolly

Recent Posts

  • Rich Dubroff

Examining contract decisions by Orioles on Friday; Hays among non-tendered players

For the second time in a month, the Orioles cut ties with one of their…

November 23, 2024
  • Orioles

Orioles offer contracts to 11 arbitration-eligible players, announce Rivera’s signing, Webb’s departure

The Orioles offered 2025 contracts to 11 players eligible for arbitration, agreed on a 2025…

November 22, 2024
  • Rich Dubroff

Orioles non-tendering reliever Jacob Webb

The Orioles are non-tendering right-handed reliever Jacob Webb according to an industry source. Webb, whom…

November 22, 2024
  • Midday Mailbag

Could Orioles trade for Garrett Crochet? | MAILBAG

Question: Let’s kill two birds to tackle the O’s needs in one fell swoop. What…

November 22, 2024
  • Rich Dubroff

Orioles seem likely to bring back arbitration-eligible players

This week, Mike Elias marked his sixth anniversary as the Orioles’ executive vice president/general manager.…

November 22, 2024
  • Midday Mailbag

Will Orioles lose players in Rule 5 draft? | MAILBAG

Question: I see that the Orioles added two pitchers to the 40-man roster, ostensibly to…

November 21, 2024