American League Wins All-Star Game

A T L A N T A, July 11, 2000 -- The Midsummer Classic looked a lot like the FallClassic.

In a duel they usually save for October, Derek Jeter and ChipperJones provided the pop tonight in an All-Star Game missingmost of baseball’s marquee names.

And once again, Jeter’s team won—American League 6, NationalLeague 3.

The Yankees shortstop and the Atlanta third baseman both went aperfect 3-for-3. But just like their meetings in the 1996 and 1999World Series, it was Jeter on top.

“That really is a shocker. Derek Jeter stealing all theheadlines,” Jones deadpanned. “It’s good to see no one else inthe National League can get him out, either.”

Torre: 10-1 vs. Cox in Atlanta

Same result for the managers, too, as Joe Torre won again in hismatchup against Bobby Cox. Torre is now 10-1 overall in gamesversus Cox in Atlanta.

On a humid night that needed some juice—and maybe a juicedball with the likes of Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr. and MikePiazza sidelined—the AL won its fourth in a row and for the 10thtime in 13 games.

Jeter became the first Yankees player ever to win the All-StarMVP award. After the game, his bat was already headed to the Hallof Fame.

“We played some very important big games here against theBraves, obviously in the postseason, regular season, now this gamehere,” he said.

“Our team has been successful here. Maybe we seem to focus abit more.”

Jeter hit .353 against the Braves in last year’s World Series.Last month, he tied his career high with four hits in a game atTurner Field.

Baldwin Gets the Victory

James Baldwin was the winning pitcher and Al Leiter took the loss as theAL cut its overall deficit to 40-30-1. The AL broke open the gamewith three runs in the ninth, highlighted by Matt Lawton’s single.

Jeter, starting because good friend Alex Rodriguez was injured,doubled off Randy Johnson in the first inning, then singled andscored against Kevin Brown in third. His two-run single in thefourth put the AL ahead 3-1 and came against Leiter in a reprise oflast weekend’s Subway Series.

“We’ve been watching that ever since he came to the bigleagues,” Cox said.

Jones did his best to make the 51,323 fans forget that BarryBonds, Cal Ripken, Manny Ramirez and Greg Maddux also weresidelined.

Jones became the 13th player to hit a home run in his own parkat an All-Star Game, connecting off Baldwin in the third. He alsosingled twice, one of them off starter David Wells.

Jeter and Jones may get another chance to meet in October, asboth of their teams went into the break in first place.

“It’s a very, very proud time for the New York Yankees,” Torresaid, “because their future did a good thing tonight.”

Torre was stunned over the fact Jeter, 26, was the first Yankee to win the MVP of the All-Star Game.

“With all the history books that have been written by a lot ofYankees, because you know Mickey Mantle made it every year—allthe great Yankees, DiMaggio—it’s hard to believe,” Torre said.

The last time the All-Stars visited Atlanta in 1972, Hank Aaronalso homered for the hometown Braves. Aaron threw out theceremonial first ball this time, and received a warm welcome.

Cheers for Galarraga

The biggest ovation, by far, went to Andres Galarraga. TheBraves first baseman, who missed last season while recovering fromcancer surgery, got a standing ovation when he was introduced andlater rewarded his rooters with a single.

Andruw Jones of the Braves also did well, delivering an RBIsingle.

Still, with a record seven starters unable to play, Maddux hurtand 1999 All-Star MVP Pedro Martinez not even on the roster becauseof an injury, this summer showcase was minus some sizzle.

The seven missing starters were batting a combined .301 with 160home runs this season and had totaled 66 All-Star appearances.

Johnson, the Big Unit himself, threw only eight pitches inworking a perfect first inning. Then again, he threw 121 Sundaywhile striking out 13 as Arizona beat Oakland.

In fact, Johnson finished off his third All-Star start bystriking out Jason Giambi, whom he faced two days ago ininterleague play.

Peaceful Night

Wells pitched two scoreless innings. And, unlike the games thatreally count, there were no beanballs or brushbacks.

The AL took a 1-0 lead in the third when Brown walked threebatters, including Carl Everett with the bases loaded. Jones tiedit with his opposite-field homer in the bottom half.

An error by Barry Larkin set up Jeter’s go-ahead single in thefourth. Playing in his third All-Star Game and making his firststart, Jeter had never gotten a hit in these affairs—he hadstruck out in his previous two at-bats.

The AL tacked on three runs in the ninth off Trevor Hoffman onLawton’s RBI single, Magglio Ordonez’s sacrifice fly and DarinErstad’s RBI grounder, a ball misplayed by second baseman JoseVidro for an error.

An error by Nomar Garciaparra set up Steve Finley’s RBI singleoff Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth. Garciaparra, Jeter’sreplacement, became the first shortstop to make two errors in anAll-Star Game.