Reyes, Howard power MLB All-Stars past Japan
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by user The shark
The MLB All-Star Team laid claim to the title of World Champs with a 5-game sweep of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball club in the semi-annual Japan All-Star Series. It was the first ever sweep (by either team) in the history of the series, which is played in Japan after the World Series every other year.
The fifth and final game ended in dramatic fashion. With Bill Hall on first and no outs in the bottom of the tenth inning, Mets shortstop Jose Reyes launched a deep walk-off blast to clinch the game - and the series. The capacity Japanese crowd chanted "JOSE, JOSE, JOSE" as Reyes circled the bases. "It was exciting for me when I heard (people chanting) my name," Reyes said. "I felt like I was playing in Shea Stadium."
The MLB All-Stars have won 9 out of the 10 installments of the Japan Series, the lone exception being 1990.
Phillies slugger and MVP candidate Ryan Howard was named Series MVP. In the six games (the first one ended in a 7-7 tie), Howard hit .558 with 3 doubles, 4 home runs, and scored 8 times. "To do something like that is special," the humble Howard said afterward. "I just wanted to come out here and have fun and try to put on a good show and help the team win. To be able to win the MVP here is great."
Having dominated Japan's best pitchers (whom he had never before faced) speaks volumes of Ryan Howard and his ability to hit a baseball. He is likely the game's next truly great hitter. And his performance in Japan may be a foreshadowing to that.
Other heroes for Bruce Bochy's squad included Andruw Jones (homered twice in the opener and again in Game Three), Jermaine Dye (two-run shot in Game One), John Lackey (2 hits allowed, 4 strikeouts in Game One), David Wright (a .353 avg, and a homer each in Games Three and Four).
- Click HERE for the full MLB Roster.
- Click HERE for the full Japan Roster.
- Source: MLB.com
