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An all-star game decided by a squeeze bunt? Well, when you consider that the team that pulled off that move was managed by someone in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization, it makes a lot more sense.
In Sunday's Arizona Fall League showcase, Justin DeCriscio of the San Diego Padres put down the stunning bunt that broke a tie and fueled a three-run bottom of the eighth inning as the NL beat the AL 7-4 in the Fall Stars Game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Ariz. The NL was managed by the Brewers' Rafael Neda.
Right fielder Yerlin Confidan of the Cincinnati Reds was named the Fall Stars MVP, coming off the bench with a double and a bases-loaded walk two batters after DeCriscio's go-ahead bunt single. Confidan and DeCriscio had two of the three RBIs for the NL despite scoring seven runs, thanks in part to three AL errors.
This isn't a typical all-star game as the Fall Stars Game happens at the end of the Arizona Fall League season. There are just two regular-season games before the playoffs, which wrap up with Saturday's championship game. But it did feature some of baseball's elite prospects, with a handful of top-100 players and many from teams' top 10.
One statistical oddity was the NL hitters struck out just six times while the NL pitchers punched out 18.
The game included a bottom of the ninth inning even though the home team was winning in order to make sure pitchers got into the game and hitters got their at-bats.
Here are some other players who stood out:
Aidan Miller, DH, Philadelphia Phillies
The shortstop got the day off from the field, but displayed some of his offensive talent. He had a productive groundout in the first inning that led to an NL run, then had a leadoff single and scored in the fourth, then a soft infield single in the fifth.
Tai Peete, CF, St. Louis Cardinals
The 21-year-old leadoff hitter made his mark on the game early without getting a hit. He walked, had a stolen base then was caught stealing on a terrific throw by catcher Nathan Flewelling (Tampa Bay Rays), but that set up the NL's run in the bottom of the first inning. He struck out and popped out in his next two at-bats.
Jarlin Susana, RHP, Washington Nationals
The big right-hander, one of the pieces the Nationals got from the San Diego Padres in the Juan Soto trade, was one of the main attractions in the Fall Stars Game and didn't disappoint. Although he gave up a walk, a single and a wild pitch after retiring the first two hitters of the game, the 22-year-old reached 103.1 mph in his long inning of work, which finished with his second punchout.
Luke Fox, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
The only pitcher to strike out three in an inning was the Dodgers' left-hander. The 24-year-old missed a good chunk of the season with an injury, but showed what he could do when healthy in the top of the fifth inning. After giving up a leadoff double and a stolen base to Kyle DeBarge (Minnesota Twins), Fox set down Antonio Anderson (Boston Red Sox), Vance Honeycutt (Baltimore Orioles) and Home Run Derby champion Aaron Parker (Toronto Blue Jays).
Kyle DeBarge, 2B-3B, Minnesota Twins
The infielder went 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. He helped the AL score twice in the top of the third. DeBarge singled with one out, stole second as part of a double steal and came home on a ground single by Ike Irish (Orioles). He doubled leading off the fifth, stole third and scored when the throw went past the third baseman.
Paxton Kling, CF, Texas Rangers
The second-best hitter in the Arizona Fall League this season helped the AL trim its deficit in the top of the ninth inning. Kling, who has a .361/.473/.443 slash line in 16 games, had an RBI single in the ninth to pull the AL within 6-4, but that would be the AL's final run.
Do you like the automatic runner in extra innings?
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