November 8, 2009 at 6:19 AM
Western Division rallies for 8-7 win in Rising Star Showcase
Before 4,550 fans, the largest crowd in the game's brief history, the Eastern Division scored seven times in their half of the first, driving Atlanta prospect Mike Minor from the game after retiring just two batters. Eleven Eastern hitters came to bat in the inning, producing the 7 runs on 7 hits highlighted by a three-run home run by Arizona prospect Brandon Allen.
The West answered with a two-run homer by Chris Heisey (CIN) in the bottom of the first and added four more in the third inning. Carlos Triunfel (SEA) led off the third with a home run. With two out, a Mike Moustakas (KC) single was followed by a Heisey double, a two-run double by Yonder Alonso (CIN) and run-scoring double by Daryl Jones. (STL)
Two Red Sox prospects entered the game in the bottom of the fifth. Dustin Richardson came into the game in relief, while Jose Iglesias entered as a defensive replacement at shortstop and ended up going 0 for 2. He struck out swinging in the sixth and was called out on strikes in the eighth. After retiring the first two hitters on a ground out to short and a strikeout, Richardson gave up two straight singles before getting the final out of the inning on a fly ball to deep center.
The East held on to its narrow one-run lead until the bottom of the eighth. Padre prospect Lance Zawadzki led off the inning with a single. Cleveland catching prospect Mike McBride followed with a two-run homer to complete the comeback. Allen led off the ninth with a walk for the East but Braves prospect Craig Kimbrel retired the next three hitters to earn the save for the Western Division.
The Solar Sox resume play on Monday with a 2:35 EST game against Scottsdale.