Reading's Pointer clinches Eastern League All-Star Game victory

Pointer following a home run this year, Photo- Tug Haines

With a unique format in place to decide a regulation tie, the Eastern League's All-Star Game was decided when Reading outfielder Brian Pointer slammed a deciding home run to clinch a victory for the Eastern Division.

The Double-A league's All-Star exhibition wrapped up nine innings of play with a 4-4 tie in Wednesday's annual event held in Portland, Maine. Extra innings were not how the game would be decided and, without a way to display the method that was actually used to decide the winner, the contest's box score displays the final score as a tie.

Instead of a traditional overtime format, the league used a home run derby to determine the winning club, with the two teams taking turns with one swing each time up, to try and launch a ball over the outfield wall in fair territory. Following eleven failed attempts by the Western division All-Stars and ten missed opportunities by Pointer and his Eastern division teammates, the 23-year-old lefty batter launched a deep fly to right field that reached the stands.

For Pointer, who was the Phillies' 28th round draft selection in 2010, it was clearly a highlight to his pro career.

"That was unbelievable! Just awesome! One of my best moments that I've been a part of," Pointer excitedly said on Wednesday night.

Pointer described the moment he recorded history, as, according to the Eastern League's media guide, this was the first occurrence of the home run shootout rule.

"Everybody just rushed me at home plate. I couldn't move. Just raised both arms up in the air because I knew I got it good and watched it go out into the stands up there and having everyone just erupt was a great moment," Pointer stated.

In regulation play during the game, Pointer went 1-for-3 with a walk and a one stolen base in two attempts as his team's designated hitter. The EL's RBI leader, Reading first baseman Brock Stassi went 0-for-1 with a walk. Reliever Stephen Shackleford allowed a walk in 2/3 scoreless inning.

After competing in the MLB All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, Phils shortstop prospect J.P. Crawford was listed as inactive for the game, although he was previously honored among the league's top talents as an All-Star.

Video of the game-deciding derby is embedded below. Pointer's heroics can be viewed around the 11:45 mark.

Comments

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading second baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Switch-hitting infielder Jesmuel Valentin has been a bit of an underrated contributor with the Double-A Reading Fightins. Heading into action on Friday, Valentin was batting .339 over his last 14 games. Overall this season, the 22-year-old is batting .282 with four home runs and 35 RBI in 64 games. Valentin, who plays mostly second base, but dabbles at shortstop a bit also, is the son of former big leaguer Jose Valentin . The Puerto Rico native was a supplementary round pick (51st overall) of the Dodgers in 2012. He was acquired by the Phils as part of the Roberto Hernandez trade in 2014. Recently, I spoke with Jesmuel about his team's success, growing up around the game and more. Read ahead for that full interview. -The Reading team has been great and you've contributed very nicely to the club's success. What are your thoughts on competition in the Eastern League this year? I just came here with the mindset that...

Rappers in Phillies Caps

Weekend greetings to you phine pholks out there. Today's post features pictures of rappers wearing Phillies caps. Why rappers in Phillies caps, you ask? Because... Any other questions? We will start things off properly by going with a highly recognizable hip hop star. 50 Cent stays constantly relavant by consistantly creating radio friendly material to help sell (G) units, while he "keeps it real" by still rapping about the thug life he lived before becoming the 2nd highest earning black entertainer in America. 50 is seen here in a recent interview rocking a throw-back Phillies cap. Next up we'll use a throw-back screen cap from what may be the very first major appearance by a rapper wearing Phillies gear. Chuck D, of legendary rap group Public Enemy, wore a Phillies cap in the music video for rap anthem Fight The Power in 1989. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing . Next up we'll go with some home grown tal...

Phillies look-alikes, Part 1

The Phillies are World Series Champions and, thus, are world wide celebrities. This recognition isn't enough, I tell you. Some of the champs could very well be confused with other major celebrities around the globe...or at least around my house. Let's dig in... Two look-alikes in particular have been widely discussed. Geoff Jenkins even made a sign on the table covering at his autograph station at last year's Phillies Phestival that he is not Brett Favre or phormer Phillie Randy Wolf. ------------------------------------------------------- Jayson Werth may be on his way to Wrestlemania. Jay-Dub is aware that he resembles Heavyweight wrestling champion Adam "Edge" Copeland. Are you? -------------------------------------------- Carlos Ruiz's fame was boosted by TBS during the playoffs, but he might be ready for his own Comedy Central sketch show, as he looks very much like Carlos Mencia. Dee dee dee! -------------------------------------------------- And whi...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog