2002 ALL-STAR GAME
The 2002 Mid-West Winter League All-Star Game was held on Saturday Night, November 16th, 2002, in the home of the Hampton Huskies.
Starting Pitchers:
Pedro Martinez 15-7 (2.24) vs. Jamie Moyer 21-7 (2.06)
2002 Mid-West Winter League (MWWL) All-Star Game Recap
A.L. Pitching Dominates in All-Star Duel
Garciaparra’s Triple the Difference as American League Bests National League, 2-0
In a contest defined by masterful pitching and strategic maneuvering, the American League All-Stars shut out the National League All-Stars 2-0 in the 2002 Mid-West Winter League All-Star Game. The victory marks the American League’s 26th win in the 33 All-Star games played, further cementing its command in the series rivalry.
From the first pitch, it was clear that runs would be at a premium. The game began as a classic pitcher’s duel, with both starting lineups struggling to make an impact. National League starter J. Moyer pitched a clean first inning, striking out Barry Bonds. His American League counterpart, P. Martinez, was equally impressive, tossing two perfect innings and striking out one batter.
Both managers, George Skiles of the American League and Chris Douglass of the National League, treated the game as a strategic showcase, frequently utilizing their star-studded benches and bullpens. Douglass went to his bullpen early, replacing Moyer after just one inning. The parade of pitchers continued for both sides throughout the game, with neither manager hesitating to play matchups by bringing in pinch hitters like Sammy Sosa for the NL and Jason Giambi for the AL.
The scoreless deadlock was finally broken in the top of the sixth inning. After Fred McGriff and Sammy Sosa drew back-to-back walks from NL pitcher Barry Zito, the AL had a threat brewing. Following a fielder’s choice, manager Chris Douglass brought in Byung-Hyun Kim to face Nomar Garciaparra with runners on first and third and two outs. Garciaparra delivered the game’s decisive blow, lacing a triple to deep center field that scored McGriff and Jason Giambi, giving the American League a 2-0 lead.
The National League’s offense was stifled all afternoon, managing just two hits in the entire contest. Their first hit did not come until the bottom of the seventh inning, when Derrek Lee hit a double off AL reliever Billy Wagner. Despite getting a runner in scoring position, they couldn’t capitalize. The NL’s only other hit was a single by Torii Hunter in the eighth.
The American League’s bullpen was lights-out, with a succession of eight pitchers combining for the four-hit shutout. Mariano Rivera, Billy Wagner, and Eric Gagne all contributed holds, setting the stage for Troy Percival, who pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save.
FINAL SCORE:
American League 2 – National League 0
ALL-TIME RECORD:
American League 26 – National. League 7
2002 ALL-STAR GAME MVP:
Nomar Garciaparra – who went 1/2 with a 2-run Double.
He earned his first All-Star Game MVP.
2002 MID-WEST WINTER LEAGUE
ALL-STAR GAME – DEEP DIVE
