Twins' All-Star Game appearances highlighted by Joe Mauer's key hit
The Minnesota Twins had two representatives in this year's All-Star Game. Only one got the chance to see the field.
Catcher Joe Mauer was a starter for the American League team that won 3-0 in Tuesday's game. He was the AL's No. 8 hitter and had two at-bats before he was pulled. Closer Glen Perkins, meanwhile, did not enter Tuesday's game -- the first All-Star Game of his career.
In his first at-bat of the night, Mauer lined out to left field to end the top of the second inning. Mauer came to the plate in the top of the fifth inning with Baltimore's Adam Jones on second base and nobody out. On a 2-2 count, Mauer hit a grounder toward shortstop that Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki couldn't make a play on. Mauer reached first base safely, while Jones scampered to third.
Mauer was eventually out at second base on a fielder's choice when his former Twins teammate and current Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy grounded to second base. Hardy was safe on the play and Jones scored from third, but Mauer was the first out of the inning.
Mauer's night ended in the bottom of the seventh inning when he was replaced by Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez. Mauer -- who was hitting .320 with eight homers and 32 RBI at the break -- finished the night 1-for-2 with a base hit.
After the game, Mauer created his first-ever tweet via the @MLB account by saying: "This is my first tweet ever. Just want to say thank you to the fans for voting me into this years ASG. Never gets old." #ASG"
Tuesday marked Mauer's sixth career All-Star Game in his 10-year career. In last year's All-Star Game, Mauer had just one at-bat as a reserve and picked up a single in the American League's 8-0 loss to the National League. His first All-Star appearance came in 2006, and he made three straight All-Star teams from 2008-10.
Perkins -- who had 21 saves at the All-Star break -- never got his chance to pitch Tuesday, as his former teammate and good friend Joe Nathan pitched the ninth inning. Many figured Yankees closer Mariano Rivera -- who is retiring at the end of the year -- would get the save opportunity. Instead, Rivera pitched a scoreless eighth inning before Nathan closed out the 3-0 win for the American League.
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