Each played roughly half the game defensively, with Guerrero serving as the starting first baseman and Kirk entering later behind the plate. Both went 1-for-2 on the night, picking up a single apiece.
Competing in his fifth Midsummer Classic, Guerrero spent four innings manning first base for the American League before being replaced by Jonathan Aranda in the bottom of the fifth.
Guerrero began his night with a five-pitch strikeout against legacy all-star pick Clayton Kershaw. The Blue Jays first baseman took an awkward hack at a 1-1 curveball before being caught looking by a 2-2 slider to end the at-bat.
His next time up, however, he was first-pitch swinging against New York Mets lefty David Peterson and lined a sinker into right-centre field for a 108.6-m.p.h. single.
For his All-Star Game career, the 26-year-old Guerrero is now 3-for-13 with a pair of singles and a home run. During his first all-star season in 2021, Guerrero took eventual Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes deep, earning the game’s MVP award.
Kirk entered the game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the sixth, taking the spot of AL starting catcher Cal Raleigh.
Toronto’s backstop stepped to the plate in the top of the seventh for his first all-star at-bat and, like Guerrero, lined a first-pitch single into the opposite-field gap. Kirk recorded the 102.8-m.p.h. hit off a sinker from San Diego Padres reliever Adrian Morejon.
The 26-year-old came around to score on Brent Rooker’s three-run homer.
In his second trip to the plate, Kirk squared off against flamethrowing rookie Jacob Misiorowski in the eighth and flew out to right.
It was Kirk’s second All-Star Game appearance after he made the AL team in 2022.
Source link
