July 10, 2007

K-Rod helps KO NL
He picks up a shaky save and Suzuki hits an inside-the-park homer in the AL's 5-4 victory.
By MARK WHICKER
The Orange County Register

SAN FRANCISCO Francisco Rodriguez went from repose to struggle to victory, all in the bottom of the ninth inning of Tuesday night's All-Star Game.

In the end, the Angels' closer got Aaron Rowand to fly out with the bases loaded and delivered yet another All-Star Game victory to the American League, 5-4.

He also ensured that the AL would get the home advantage in the World Series, and he might not be an innocent bystander, with the Angels leading the West by 2 1/2 games.

But for a few moments, K-Rod was just a bit out of his element.

"I had warmed up in the eighth, when Jonathan (Papelbon) got in a little trouble," Rodriguez said. "Then we got into the ninth and I sat down. There were two outs and nobody on, and I thought it was over."

Seattle's J.J. Putz, who is 24 for 24 in save situations, gave up an infield single to Dmitri Young, and Alfonso Soriano slammed an opposite-field home run to cut the AL lead to 5-4. When J.J. Hardy walked, Manager Jim Leyland called for Rodriguez, who was furiously getting loose again.

Derrek Lee walked after first base umpire Charlie Reliford signaled he had successfully checked his swing on a slider. Orlando Hudson's walk loaded the bases, and a crowd that had cheered itself out for Barry Bonds' first two plate appearances now gained strength again.

"I was trying to be too fine," Rodriguez said. "I didn't want to leave anything out over the plate. When the bases were loaded, (catcher Jorge) Posada told me to get ahead of guys and go to the hard stuff, and that's what I did. By then they weren't looking for it."

Rowand, the former Cal State Fullerton center fielder who plays for the Phillies, flied out to right, and Rodriguez did his double-fist salute to the skies not once, but twice.

"I was very relieved," he said.

It was the third time since April 29 that Rodriguez has entered in mid-inning.

His tightrope act preserved the victory, which brought the AL to 10-0-1 in the past 11 games, and Ichiro Suzuki's MVP award.

Suzuki, Seattle's master batsman who is reportedly on the verge of signing a five-year contract extension, put the AL ahead for good with the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star Game history.

He banged a drive off the Padres' Chris Young that hit a signboard in right-center field. While Ken Griffey Jr. broke toward center in anticipation of the bounce, the ball bounced toward right, and Suzuki hoofed it for a 2-1 lead in the fifth.

Vladimir Guerrero, who won the home run derby Monday night, went 0 for 3, and Angels pitcher John Lackey did not appear.

The Dodgers' Brad Penny and Takashi Saito pitched a scoreless inning apiece, and Russell Martin went 0 for 3.

"I thought it was going over the fence," Suzuki said. "When it didn't, I was really bummed."

Leyland was only surprised that Suzuki didn't hit a more conventional home run.

"They say he hits more out in batting practice than anyone," Leyland said, "and he did it tonight like it was nothing. I'm not too happy about it because that's who we (the Tigers) play next."

Someone asked Suzuki how many homers he could hit if he concentrated on power. His high for Seattle is 15.

"I could hit 40 if I also hit .220," he said, "but nobody wants that."

Beforehand, Bonds and Derek Jeter escorted Willie Mays to a first-pitch ceremony held in the outfield. Mays rode around the park in the back of a 1958 Cadillac Eldorado (the Giants and Mays moved here in '58) after he had walked between lines of applauding All-Stars.

"This is something I'll never forget," Bonds said of the ceremony and the fans' warm greeting. "It was the icing on the cake. I'm lost for words about it."