A "boisterous crowd of 42,386" last night attended the 87th MLB All-Star Game at Petco Park. Pregame festivities "included a flyover and giant flag stretching across the outfield during the national anthem." Then there was "an unexpected announcement" by MLB that it will honor HOFers Rod Carew and Tony Gwynn "by naming the AL batting title award for Carew and the NL batting title award for Gwynn" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/13). The game "lost air after the second inning." It was "well-played" at times, but "just lacked the sizzle we long to see in this event" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/13).
Last night’s game “was all about” retiring Red Sox DH David Ortiz, who became the “guest of honor” at Petco Park (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/13). Ortiz was replaced with a pinch-runner after a third-inning walk, after which the AL players "came out on the field to applaud him” (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/13). Ortiz "rivaled hometown Padres for applause and adulation" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/13). However, there is a question about why AL manager Ned Yost pulled Ortiz “before the shadows covered the infield” (ESPN.com, 7/12).
