All 6 Cutters on the All-Star team play key role in win
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Leaving the isolation of a deserted bullpen, Williamsport's Keylan Killgore trotted toward the mound where the New York-Penn League South All-Stars were gathered. He joined them and took the baseball from 14-year-old bench coach Josiah Viera.
Viera, who suffers from Progeria and stands just over three feet tall, gave the 6-foot-3 Killgore a pat on the butt as he turned and began his walk back to the first-base dugout of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Both teams stepped out of the dugout and applauded Viera and the more than 3,000 fans in the stands rose to their feet and cheered. It was a magical moment to close out an entertaining and amusing night of baseball at the New York-Penn League All-Star Game.
A staple in the State College Spikes' dugout each season, Viera made the final pitching change of the night Tuesday, handing the ball to Killgore, the league's saves leader. The pat on the butt meant it was back to business for the players on the field, even as phones were raised to capture the heart-warming moment.
"I was like, 'yeah, that's a normal pitching change right there,'" Killgore said with a smile. "That pitching change, that probably put the biggest smile I've had on my face in a long time."
Killgore took care of business from there, throwing a scoreless ninth inning at the South All-Stars defeated the North All-Stars, 7-1. All six members of the Williamsport Crosscutters played a key role in the South's win as Ben Aklinski, Rafael Marchan and Edwin Rodriguez reached base five times in six plate appearances. Killgore and Randy Alcantara each threw a scoreless inning, and Rafael Carvajal struck out a pair in his one inning of work.
"Honestly, it brings back the love of the game after 80-some games that some of us have played this year," Killgore said. "It was a blast. It's not very often you get to spend time like this with other players from other teams. It's probably the most fun baseball game you’ll play in."
In the course of the grind of a season, Tuesday's All-Star Game allowed players to let loose a little bit. There was trash talking, chest-pounding and even some hugging. When Mahoning Valley's Luis Santos hit 100 mph on the radar gun during his at-bat against league home run leader Sean Reynolds, Santos turned and pointed to the reading on the right field wall.
When he struck out Reynolds on the next pitch with a filthy slider, Santos walked toward the plate and gave Reynolds a hug of condolence. In the next half inning, after sliding safely into third base, Rodriguez picked up third baseman Korby Batesole from the ground and held him in a bear hug for a few moments.
As much as the players were dialed in to play the game hard, it was an opportunity to let loose and laugh a little bit. And for South, it was easy to stay loose after putting up three runs in the first inning.
Brooklyn's Ross Adolph tripled home a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Rodriguez followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in the third run. Two innings later, Rodriguez and Marchan each singled setting up West Virginia's Travis Swaggerty for a two-run single which pushed the lead to 6-1.
"It was a lot of fun," said Aklinski, who was 1 for 1 with a walk and a single. "It was a different feeling for me considering normally when a guy throws 100 he doesn't point to the scoreboard and then go hug the batter after it. It was really cool to be a part of."
"First off that was the first time I've ever seen 100 in person. I can't even imagine throwing 100," Killgore said. "But in a game like this, you might as well go for it. You got one shot, so you might as well showboat a little bit."
Carvajal allowed the only run score by the North, but it was an unearned run which was score by a runner who reached base on an error. Otherwise, the Cutters' 21-year-old right-hander was dialed in. He struck out Red Sox sixth-round pick Devlin Granberg to start the inning. He closed the inning with a strikeout of Rays second-round pick Tyler Frank.
Alcantara threw a scoreless eighth inning, getting a line drive at the center fielder, a routine grounder and a pop-up to the infield. It was a redemption inning for Alcantara who was charged with a blow save when he gave up a run in last year's NYPL All-Star game.
His and Carvajal's innings set a tone Killgore felt like he had to match as the last player in the South bullpen. He was summoned by Viera and proceeded to throw a pretty uneventful ninth inning. He struck out Lowell’s Xavier LeGrant before fielding a one-hop rocket in front of his face to end the game.
Adolph was named the game's MVP after going 2 for 3 with a home run, triple and three RBIs. Shikellamy High School graduate Nick Dunn was 1 for 2, picking up the first hit of the game for the South All-Stars in the first inning.
Aklinski was a 32nd-round pick of the Phillies out of Kentucky and has been one of the Crosscutters' most consistent performers this season. Killgore has been one of the league’s best relievers as a 17th-round pick out of Wichita State.
Last night they proved themselves against some of the best the New York-Penn League had to offer.
"It doesn't matter why or where I got picked as long as I got picked," Aklinski said. "I'm fortunate that balls are falling for me and I'm taking advantage of the opportunity I've got."
"Coming from Wichita, Kansas, then playing in college in Wichita, I’m really away from home for the first time in my life," Killgore said. "To get an accolade like an All-Star game in my first professional year, it's something I couldn't have dreamed of really."