Buxton hits go-ahead homer in 1st ASG
Rhett Bollinger
@RhettBollingerLOS ANGELES -- After striking out in his first at-bat in the All-Star Game on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, Byron Buxton vowed to himself to at least make contact and try for a single in his next at-bat.
Buxton did more than just that, coming through with a go-ahead solo homer in the fourth inning to help the American League to a 3-2 win. Buxton was in the on-deck circle when Giancarlo Stanton crushed a 457-foot homer to left-center field, and Buxton followed it up with a 425-foot blast on a high fastball from Tony Gonsolin?, who is 11-0 in the regular season but was charged with the loss in the Midsummer Classic.
¡°I was just thinking base hit,¡± Buxton said. ¡°I just wanted to get on base and keep the line moving, but I put on a better swing on it than I thought.¡±
Buxton, who was an All-Star for the first time in his eight-year career, was in consideration to be the Chevrolet All-Star Game MVP for his go-ahead shot, but Stanton ended up taking home the honors. Buxton, though, said he was happy for Stanton, especially because Stanton is from Los Angeles.
¡°That doesn¡¯t bother me,¡± Buxton said. ¡°The fact I was chosen to be able to play side by side with him is the memory I¡¯ll have. He talked about how he used to sit a few rows from where he hit that homer when he was little, so I couldn¡¯t be happier for him.¡±
Buxton, 28, started in center field with Mike Trout out because of a ribcage injury. He said he enjoyed the experience, as he was able to take it all in with his family and teammate and fellow All-Star Luis Arraez?.
¡°It¡¯s indescribable,¡± Buxton said. ¡°Just who Luis is as a person, it¡¯s even better than he is as a player. That¡¯s probably one of the reasons why I¡¯m glad he was here by my side to enjoy this with me. For me, I got to come out and enjoy the memory with my family.¡±
Arraez, who went 1-for-2 with a single in the eighth, said he also enjoyed his experience and was in awe of Buxton¡¯s epic blast.
¡°When Byron hit the home run, that was my favorite moment today,¡± Arraez said. ¡°He¡¯s my teammate, and he¡¯s really like my brother, so that was my favorite moment.¡±