ANAHEIM, Calif. — This strangest of All-Star Games ended with Alex Rodriguez on the bench, the active all-time home run leader never getting an at-bat and the National League winning for the first time since 1996.
Manager Joe Girardi simply elected not to use Rodriguez in the American League’s 3-1 loss last night at Angel Stadium. He said he considered using Rodriguez as a pinch runner, not a hitter.
Rodriguez had said on Monday he hoped to be “the hero” late in the game but the opportunity never came.
Asked about it afterward, Rodriguez made a funny face and said, “I don’t know, I was loose, I was ready to go in the eighth and ninth, but thank God everything is good. I’ll be ready to go on Friday [against the Rays].”
His 13th All-Star Game was unlucky 13 for No. 13.
Asked if it felt strange not getting in at all, Rodriguez said, “Yeah, but I’m happy for [Adrian] Beltre and [Ty] Wiggington. They got some good playing time. Sitting out there for three hours, Joe decided it was best not to use me. I was ready to go. It was just up to him on what situation to put me in.”
Rodriguez said he was not disappointed at all, noting, “It’s not my first. I’m looking forward to a great second half.”
Said Girardi, “If [David] Ortiz and Beltre got on, Al was going to pinch-run for Ortiz and Wiggington was going to pinch-run for Beltre because his hamstring is bothered.”
The death of George Steinbrenner turned what should be a joyous occasion into a day of sadness and remembrance. Phil Hughes, who grew up 10 miles from the ballpark, was the losing pitcher. Braves catcher Brian McCann was named the MVP for his three-run double in the seventh that erased a 1-0 AL lead.
The last time the AL lost, Hughes was 10 years old and going to Angels games with his family.
Rodriguez was booed heavily in introductions.
“It was great, it was placed perfectly, the Angels, then me, I tried to get a little bit of Torii Hunter’s credit,” Rodriguez said with a smile.
The AL loss means the Yankees, if they repeat as AL champs, will not have home-field advantage in the World Series. Since 2003, the winning team had always been the AL.
“I knew at some point this was going to end,” Rodriguez said. “It’s going to be a different road, that’s for sure.”
With the AL trailing 3-1 in the ninth, Ortiz, who had singled, was thrown out at second on what should have been a one-out single by John Buck. Right-fielder Marlon Byrd grabbed the ball on a bounce and fired to second to get Ortiz for the second out.
Ian Kinsler then flied to center off Jonathan Broxton to end it.
David Wright was 2-for-2 and is a lifetime .462 hitter in the All-Star Game, the fifth-highest average for hitters with at least 10 at-bats in All-Star games.
“It’s a small sample,” Wright said with a smile.
The Yankees wore black armbands on their left sleeve in honor of Steinbrenner. Flags were flown at half-staff and there was a moment of silence before the game as Steinbrenner’s photo was shown on the scoreboard with the quote “Once a Yankee, always a Yankee.”
With the AL leading 1-0 in the seventh, Hughes made his All-Star Game debut. He allowed two singles and only retired one batter before being pulled by Girardi.
Later in the inning McCann doubled home three runs against White Sox reliever Matt Thornton.
The AL went ahead 1-0 in the fifth on Robinson Cano’s sacrifice fly, but for the first time since 1996, it was the NL’s night.