The Sensational 70s All - Star Game

The Sensational 70s season's top performers took center stage at Target Field in Minneapolis for the annual mid-summer classic. The old saying is good pitching beats good hitting, and through 6+ innings,that was certainly the case as the game's best offensive players on both teams were held to three hits in total.

The American League pitching staff actually carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning clinging to a 2-0 lead. The '77 White Sox slugging third baseman Eric Soderholm belted a solo shot to deep center off National League starter Fred Norman in the second. Then the junior circuit got their last hit of the contest in the fifth inning courtesy of '79 Orioles left fielder Gary Roenicke. He drilled a double, and Julio Cruz came on to pinch run for him, moving to third on a ground out by '77 Royals' catcher Darrell Porter. Alan Trammell then pinch hit for American League starting shortstop Alan Bannister and sent a sacrifice fly to right to count Cruz. 

Eight American League pitchers had combined on the no hitter, but with two out in the seventh, '79 Expos catcher Gary Carter slapped a single into right field off '77 Rangers reliever Adrian Devine to end the bid. Devine got the American League out of the inning unscathed, but the National League bats had stirred from their slumber. Dick Drago started the eighth getting Steve Garvey to fly out, but Robin Yount tripled into center and scored on a Pete Rose ground out cutting the lead in half. Joe Morgan followed his Cincinnati teammate and singled off Drago to chase him from the game. Orioles reliever Tim Stoddard came on to face pinch hitter Gary Matthews and allowed a single which gave '78 Padres right fielder Dave Winfiled a chance. Winfield made the most of it, blasting a two run double into the left center field gap to clear the bases. This gave the National League the lead and the eventual win. Rollie Fingers got the final two outs of the game for the save and was granted player of the game honors. The Phillies' Ron Reed was credited with the win.