Cabrera took a classy step to help boost Hosmer's All-Star MVP case
The 2016 All-Star game went about as well as it could for the Kansas City Royals.
Their catcher Salvador Perez and first baseman Eric Hosmer were responsible for all four runs scored by the American League, thanks to a home run from each player and an RBI single by Hosmer. Kelvin Herrera pitched a perfect sixth. Royals skipper Ned Yost, who managed the AL in the game, helped ensure the AL would again have home-field advantage in the World Series thanks to its 4-2 victory over the National League. And, to top the night off, Hosmer -- who was making his first appearance in an All-Star game -- received the MVP award (and a new Chevy truck).
It turns out, however, that it wasn't just fans of the reigning World Series champions who wanted to see their guy take home the hardware last night. Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports writes that the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera took a classy step to help boost his AL teammate's case:
"While Perez's swing proved the game winner, Hosmer's rocket single off Jose Fernandez in the third inning put him in position to win MVP. It wasn't lost on his teammates. Miguel Cabrera, the two-time MVP whose Detroit Tigers are almost even with the Royals in the AL Central, went up to Yost and told him he didn't want to come into the game until after Hosmer's third at-bat because it might seal the MVP award. Even though Hosmer grounded out to start the sixth inning, it didn't lessen Cabrera's gesture.
"'He was already one of my favorite guys in the league,' Hosmer said. 'When he does something like that -- listen, I know he's the best first baseman in the game. I know he's the best player in the game. And there was no bitterness as far as not being the starter. For him to do that says a lot about his character and really stands out to me.'"
To recap: last night, a guy making his first All-Star appearance ends up the MVP, the Royals showed once again that they belong on the big stage, and two talented division rivals became allies.
Even Hollywood scripts don't get much better than that.
