Padres all-stars give solid, but not-so-stellar performances in Midsummer Classic

July 14, 9:27 PMSan Diego Sports ExaminerGerald Nicdao

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Adrian Gonzalez at the 2009 Home Run Derby on Monday. (AP/Morry Gash)

It seemed like Adrian Gonzalez was never going to get to even get a sniff of playing time in the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis.

Albert Pujols—the hometown, fan-favorite, starting first baseman for the National League—looked like he was never going to relieved.

Prince Fielder—a lefty like Gonzalez—was the first pinch-hitter used by NL and Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.

Ryan Howard, the native son from St. Louis, was still on the bench and Gonzalez was, afterall, still an unknown to many before Monday’s Home Run Derby.

But Gonzalez, the reigning Gold Glover at first for the National league, got his time after Pujols had his third (ineffective) at bat.

Gonzalez was equally ineffective, drawing a walk in his lone at bat (though making it to third base on an Orlando Hudson hit), but providing solid defense at first.

(He also hit just two home runs in Monday's Home Run Derby, but we'll blame that on the fatigue he had after his amazing adventure with Heath Bell.)

That’s how the game was for the two Padres All-Stars: not stellar, not particularly memorable, but overall solid.

Solid except for the fact that San Diego closer Heath Bell was tagged with the loss, after giving the American League the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth.

Baltimore’s Adam Jones drove in the game-winner, hitting a fly ball to right field and scoring Curtis Granderson—who hit a triple off of Bell to lead off the inning—scored.

Bell gave up two hits, an earned run and struck out one in his one inning on the mound.

The National League, playing in what is probably the most pro-National League crowd in the big leagues (the crowd was muffled when Mariano Rivera recorded the final out), lost the All-Star Game again, 4-3.

The Senior Circuit has not won a Midsummer Classic since 1996, when the National League blanked the American League 6-0. That’s 13 years of not winning.

Former Padres third baseman Ken Caminiti went 1-for-2 in that game and had one of the two home runs hit at Veteran Stadium in Philadelphia.