Kanny's Johnson Sparks Rally, Leads North to 2-1 Win In All-Star Game
LAKEWOOD, NJ - The North All-Stars (1-0) had to wait nearly three extra hours, but finally earned the 2-1 victory over the South All-Stars (0-1) in the 2013 South Atlantic League All-Star Game, Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Park. The start of the 54th annual SAL All-Star game was delayed 2:51 minutes because of rain and it was turned into a seven-inning affair following the inclement weather.
Trailing 1-0 in heading into the bottom of the third, it was Kannapolis' Micah Johnson and the Northern All-Stars that plated two runs and took the lead for good. With one down, West Virginia's shortstop Dilson Herrera singled off of Augusta's Chris Stratton and kick started the rally.
Johnson followed with a single through the hole on the right side that moved Herrera to third as the tying run. The league leader in steals then took off for second on the next pitch and Herrera scored on the throw down by Savannah's Kevin Plawecki, and tied the game up at 1-1.
Johnson stole third and scored the go-ahead, and ultimately winning run, on the RBI groundout off the bat of Hickory's Lewis Brinson to make it 2-1.
North manager Tripp Keister dipped into the bullpen six more times after his squad took the lead and called upon Hickory's Alex Claudio to close out the game in the seventh and final frame.
Claudio gave up a leadoff single to Charleston's Peter O'brien before he retired the next two in order. With the two outs, Lexington's Raul Mondesi singled to left to put the go-ahead run on first. Greenville's Mookie Betts was the final hope for the Southern All-Stars.
The second baseman lined the 1-1 pitch off of the pitcher Claudio right to the charging shortstop, Herrera, who barehanded the bouncing ball and fired to first to complete the 1-6-3 out that ended the game.
The lone run for the South was plated in the first inning off the bat of Rome's Levi Hyams. The second baseman fell behind in the count 0-2 against West Virginia's Orlando Castro, but battled back to work the count full. Hyams won the battle and smoked a solo home run to right on the seventh pitch of the at-bat, giving the South the early 1-0 lead.
The winning pitcher for the North was Hagerstown's Dixon Anderson. The righty allowed two base runners in the third inning, but kept the South off the board before his offense put up the two runs of support. Anderson (1-0) gave up two hits and did not walk or strike out a batter in his scoreless frame.
Claudio (1) earned the save with his work in the ninth. The lefty gave up two hits and struck out one in the scoreless ninth.
Stratton (0-1) was charged with the two runs and took the loss for the South All-Stars. The righty allowed the two runs on four hits and did not walk or strikeout a batter. The next seven pitchers for the south followed with three innings of two-hit, scoreless relief.
MiLB.COM Top Star Award: Micah Johnson (KAN): 1-2, 2SB, R