CINCINNATI, OH (WTVB) – The 86th Major League Baseball All-Star game is tonight at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Todd Frazier played the role of hometown hero in the Home Run Derby last night. The Reds’ third baseman beat Dodger’s outfielder Joc Pederson in the finals, 15-14. Frazier took advantage of this year’s new format and hit the winning blast in bonus time. Under the new bracket style format, players had four minutes to hit as many home runs as possible. Rounds were reduced from five to four minutes due to the threat of inclement weather. Hitters could earn bonus time based on home run distance.
The pitching matchup for tonight’s game has Houston Astros hurler Dallas Keuchel starting for the American League while Zack Greinke of the Los Angeles Dodgers goes to the hill for the National League. The AL will open the game with an all right-handed-hitting lineup for the first time and this is the first time the AL starting lineup did not have at least one player from Boston or the New York Yankees.
Making the roster for the American League from the Detroit Tigers were shortstop Jose Iglesias and outfielder J.D. Martinez along with pitcher David Price. Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera was voted to start at first base but is sidelined with a calf injury.
Since the decision in 2003 to have the winning All Star team’s league gain home field advantage in the World Series, it seems to have increased the intensity of the Mid-Summer Classic. The American League is trying for its third straight win with the last National League victory coming in 2012. The National League leads the all-time series 43-40 with two ties.