On This Date in Sports July 9, 1991: All-Stars in Toronto
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles follows a win in the Home Run Derby with an All-Star Game MVP as the American League defeats the National League 4-2 at Toronto's SkyDome. It was the second and most recent All-Star Game played in Canada. Ripken's success in the Home Run Derby one day earlier with a three-run home run in the third inning off Dennis Martinez of the Montreal Expos.
For the second time, the MLB All-Star Game is played outside the United States, as it is hosted by the Toronto Blue Jays at SkyDome. Jack Morris of the Minnesota Twins is selected to start for the American League, while Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves makes the start for the National League. The AL is led by Tony LaRussa of the Oakland Athletics, while Lou Piniella of the Cincinnati Reds manages the NL.
The National League draws first blood, as Morris gives up three hits in the first inning, with Bobby Bonilla of the Pittsburgh Pirates driving home Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres. Gwynn had led the game off with a single. Morris would not allow another run, while the American League could not get a run off Glavine. In the third inning, Jimmy Key of the host Blue Jays pitched around a double by Rick Suttcliffe of the Chicago Cubs, as the score remained 1-0 when Dennis Martinez took the mound for the National League.
Dennis Martinez got Roberto Alomar of the Blue Jays to fly out to left field. Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics and Wade Boggs of the Boston Red Sox singled to set the stage for Cal Ripken Jr. Ripken blasted a pitch from Martinez over the centerfield fence for a three-run homer that gave the American League the lead. The National League would answer in the fourth inning as Andre Dawson of the Chicago Cubs homered off Roger Clemens of the Red Sox.
The home run by Dawson would be the final run scored by the National League, as the American League scratched across a run in the seventh inning as Joe Carter of the Blue Jays scored on a sacrifice fly by Harold Baines of the Athletics.