The AL squad is once again dominated by Rays, with 8 players selected and 7 of them starting: SP-Gordie Ager (his 5th selection), C-Tony Cordova (1st), 2B-Yuji Morioka (1st), SS-Dave Frick (2nd), 3B-Luis Barela (7th), LF-Mario Saro (1st), RF-Doug Johns (3rd). Greg Bookhart (2nd) was also selected.
Former Rays named All-Stars include Josh Beckett (TOR), Chris Fox (KC), Jaiden Hardaway (HOU) and Ed Pretty (ATL). J-Hard is still going strong at age 40.
The Home Run Derby:
No Rays in this year's competition and the totals were anemic especially considering the game is in Coors Field this year. Seems to be an OOTP23 thing.
The game itself:
The AL mounted an impressive rally in the 9th but that just set the stage for hometown hero Kevin Erickson to single in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th for the NL to take the win at Coors Field. Rays players were a mixed bag with Doug Johns and Luis Barela homering but Gordie Ager and Greg Bookhart each allowing a run in their inning. Mario Saro would have scored on Johns' homer but was thrown out attempting to steal after he had singled.