Zach Bones and Travis Roosevelt combined to twirl three shutout innings, getting the Senior Circuit off to a nice start. In the top of the fourth inning, Los Angeles SS Miguel James capped an NL rally with a two-run blast that snuck over the wall in right field, giving the NL a 3-0 lead.
The AL battled gamely back, however, pushing a run across in the bottom of the fourth on an Alejandro Cruz double, scoring another in the fifth courtesy of a Rex Rhodes home run, and pulling even on an RBI groundout by Harold Martin in the bottom of the sixth.
The NL answered quickly, with Chicago catcher Heath Leius lining a home run just over the left field wall to lead of the seventh. That home run, which proved to be the decisive shot, came off of Detroit closer Lou Crosby. While he has converted 18 of 19 save chances this season for FC Dinamo, the only batter he faced in the clash between the leagues got the better of him. "What can I say," said Crosby slowly after the game. "You can't make even a single mistake against hitters like these. I made one too many."
Winning pitcher Wally Valentine of Los Angeles went one and two-thirds scoreless innings, and Alejandro Bennett tossed two shutout innings to earn the save, to go along with his perfect 23 saves in 23 opportunities for the Fargo Argonauts. "This was a lot of fun," said Bennett, "and it's just a little bit easier because you know that everyone is relaxed. There just isn't as much on the line; there isn't as much pressure." Augusta ace Rich May, who gave up the first three NL runs, agreed: "This was a fun couple of days, but it's time to get back to the games that matter," he said. For his club, like many others, that will mean a return to the rigors of a pennant race.
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