Fall Stars Game Filled With Homers

The 2015 Fall Stars Game on Saturday provided plenty of highlights, many of which came from the Western Division who took the game 8-3 over the East, their fourth win in the last six years.

New York Yakees #5 prospect, catcher Gary Sanchez walked away with some hardware after being named Fall Stars Bowman Star of the Game after knotting the game at two with a two-run homer in the 4th off of Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland and showing off his arm from behind the dish, throwing out San Francisco Giants middle infielder Christian Arroyo and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jake Bauers. To be fair, Bauers tripped midway between first and second and gave himself up. After the tumble, Bauers smiled and tipped his cap to the fans on his way to the dugout.

Sanchez wasn’t the only player to show off his might on Saturday as Cincinnati Reds infielder Alex Blandino pulled a no-doubter down the left field line, complete with a mini-bat flip. Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows has had a rough time in the Fall League, batting .158 in 58 at-bats, and all week has been roping balls just outside of the first base line. While he still pulled one just foul in the 6th, he adjusted and took Detroit Tigers righty Adam Ravenelle yard to right-center. All three homers drove in two.

The scoring began in the second with yet another two-run shot, but this time it was from the East Stars as Miami Marlins #6 prospect Austin Dean drove the ball to right where Houston’s Derek Fisher took an ill-fated dive, allowing the ball to roll to the wall. The relay throw was there in time but Sanchez was unable to hold onto the ball and Dean plated two with the ever-exciting inside-the-park home run.

The East would score their third run in the seventh off of David Rollins, who spent the majority 2015 suspended for a failed PED test, but made his big-league debut with the Seattle Mariners in July.  Sam Travis walked and Jeimer Candelario doubled to score Travis. Rollins also struck out the side while allowing the one run.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Sean Manaea got the start for the East and was arguably the most impressive pitcher outside of Raymond Black from the Giants who blew out the radar gun. Manaea went two innings without allowing a hit and striking out four. Black has made a name for himself this Fall League with his consistent velocity. The Fall Stars Game was no exception as Black needed just eight pitches to get three outs. One was a slider, and the other seven were heaters–three of which were between 100 and 101 mph. Three of the other four were clocked at 99.

Next: Phillies Showcasing Young Pitching in Arizona?

Colorado Rockies reliever Carlos Estevez recorded the final two outs of the top half of the ninth, striking out one. With those 2/3, Estevez has now pitched 7.2 innings in Fall League action, allowing just one run and one hit while recording 11 strikeouts. Estevez finished the regular season in Double-A, totaling 36 innings with a 4.50 ERA while striking out 43. The 22-year-old right-hander will be Rule 5 eligible in December’s draft.