Jason Kipnis didn’t start the 2015 MLB All-Star Game — he finished third among American League second basemen with about 4.7 million fan votes — but he saw a decent bit of action in the 6-3 American League victory.
He entered Tuesday night’s game in the bottom of the fifth inning, replacing Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve on defense. He batted an inning later, and got a nice ovation from the Cincinnati crowd.1
From the Top of the 6th: “Now batting, from the Cleveland Indians — Number 22, Jason Kipnis!” pic.twitter.com/l3wYUbMMqG
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) July 15, 2015
Kipnis came to the plate in the top of the sixth with New York Mets starter Jacob deGrom on the hill. Kipnis struck out on four pitches, which is the best that any AL hitter fared in the inning — deGrom fanned A’s catcher Stephen Vogt on three pitches before Kipnis and Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias on three pitches after.
.@JdeGrom19’s line: #whiff, #whiff, #whiff. @Headshoulders pic.twitter.com/oGffUmciq2
— MLB (@MLB) July 15, 2015
A 98 mph heater to Kipnis was the only ball deGrom threw in the inning. The Mets righthander only worked the sixth, but his triple K performance immediately earned him a place in All-Star Game history.
Jacob DeGrom is the 8th pitcher to strike out all three batters he faced in an ASG. Last was Valverde in 2010. pic.twitter.com/jOvdeYcaMk
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) July 15, 2015
Jacob deGrom with a VERY impressive inning 10 pitches 9 strikes 5 swings-and-misses 3 K
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 15, 2015
Kipnis stayed in to play defense in the bottom of the sixth and fielded the final out of the inning. Orioles closer Zach Britton induced a Troy Tulowitzki grounder, which Kipnis gathered and flipped to Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias, forcing out Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina at second.
His next action came in the bottom of the seventh. Still in at second base, he fielded a grounder off the bat of Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford and threw him out at first, with New York Yankee Mark Teixeira recording the putout. It was the first out of a 1-2-3 inning for Yankees reliever Dellin Betances.
Twins second baseman Brian Dozier pinch hit for Kipnis in the top of the eighth inning, and the Indians’ All-Star night was done. (Dozier homered to center off of Pirates closer Mark Melancon to extend the AL lead to 6-2.)
Kipnis’ strikeout lowers his career All-Star Game batting average to .500 and his career OPS from 3.000 to a mere 1.500. He hit an RBI double in his only at-bat and stole a base in the 2013 Midsummer Classic, a 3-0 AL victory and Kipnis’ only other All-Star appearance.
By virtue of its 6-3 victory, the American League will get home field once again in the 2015 World Series. The American League has now won 15 of the last 18 All-Star Games.
- As someone who purchased a copy of Mystikal’s Let’s Get Ready CD, I was really upset with myself for not knowing that Kipnis’ walkup music was “Bouncin’ Back (Bumpin’ Me Against The Wall)”