Taiwanese outfielder Lin Che-hsuan hit a two-run homer and nine World team pitchers combined on a three-hitter for a 3-0 victory over the US in the Futures Game on Sunday.
The 10th annual showcase for Major League Baseball’s premier prospects began a much-hyped farewell to Yankee Stadium, with today’s All-Star game highlighting the ballpark’s final season.
Lin earned an MVP award that went to major league stars such as Alfonso Soriano, Jose Reyes and Grady Sizemore in previous years.
PHOTO: AFP
The half-filled crowd wasn’t impressed, booing Lin — as Yankees fans would anyone in a Boston Red Sox cap — while he was interviewed on television near the mound after the final out.
“I was so nervous,” the 19-year-old Red Sox minor leaguer said through a translator. “Just wanted to do my best.”
Lin is hitting .251 with five home runs, 34 RBIs and 26 stolen bases for Class A Greenville.
After coming off the bench to play center in the sixth, Lin drove the first pitch he saw from Colorado reliever Ryan Mattheus down the left-field line in the seventh to give the World team a 3-0 cushion.
A good-looking pitching staff closed it out from there. Oakland righty Henry Rodriguez struck out three in the eighth, slipping on the mound while buzzing a 100mph (160kph) fastball across the plate as several big league general managers watched from the stands.
Washington’s Shairon Martis worked the ninth for a save, retiring Dexter Fowler of Colorado on a grounder with two on to end it.
World starter Carlos Carrasco of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched a hitless inning to earn the win.
Chicago White Sox left-hander Clayton Richard started for the US team and took a hard-luck loss after allowing an unearned run.
The World team went ahead in the first, taking advantage of a throwing error by Philadelphia shortstop Jason Donald. Texas’ Elvis Andrus then stole third and scored on an RBI grounder by San Francisco’s Pablo Sandoval.
More than 40 Futures Game alumni have become major league All-Stars, and sometimes it doesn’t take long. Last year’s contest included 2008 All-Stars Evan Longoria and Geovany Soto.
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