Notes on a Scorecard - July 15, 1992

It happened Tuesday at the All-Star game:

4:10 p.m.--Mark McGwire bunts! But it’s only batting practice. He deposits the next pitch into the left-field seats. . . .

4:30--Media notes distributed in the press box reveal that Kevin Brown will be the first pitcher whose name is a color to start in an All-Star game since Vida Blue in 1978. Who says baseball is too caught up in trivia? . . .

4:45--In broad daylight, the lights are on at Jack Murphy Stadium. And we’re supposed to be conserving energy. . . .

5:21--Look-alikes: Wade Boggs and Robin Williams. . . .

5:29--Of the 12 past or present San Diego Padres introduced, only National League catcher Benito Santiago hears any boos. . . .

5:31--Roseanne Arnold not having been asked to reprise her rendition, Wilson Phillips sings the national anthem. . . .

5:36--President Bush is introduced. He is less popular at Jack Murphy Stadium than Benito Santiago. . . .

5:39--Ozzie Smith, who perfected the move here, executes a back flip on his way to shortstop. . . .

5:42--Roberto Alomar swings and misses at the first pitch delivered by Tom Glavine. . . .

5:44--The ceremonial first beach ball is tossed into left field. . . .

5:46--Wade Boggs singles. . . .

5:47--Kirby Puckett singles. . . .

5:48--Joe Carter singles. . . .

5:49--Mark McGwire singles..

5:51--Cal Ripken Jr. singles. . . .

5:52--Ken Griffey singles. . . .

5:53--Sandy Alomar singles. . . .

5:55--Glavine strikes out rival pitcher Brown, but not until the American League has scored four runs in the first inning. . . .

5:56--The scoreboard operator must think this is the Holiday Bowl. . . .

6:01--Barry Bonds flies out to left as the National League goes down in order. Must be the twilight that makes it so hard to hit during the early innings of an All-Star game in California. . . .

6:05--The American League not only won the home run-hitting contest Monday, it is winning the singles-hitting contest. Roberto Alomar gets his team’s eighth to lead off the second inning. . . .

6:06--Santiago is booed again as he throws into center field trying to get Alomar stealing second. . . .

6:10--Bobby Cox can’t take it any longer. The Atlanta manager removes Atlanta pitcher Glavine after he gives up his ninth single and fifth run. . . .

6:11--Obviously, Cecil Fielder never would have blended into this collection of Punch-and-Judy hitters. . . .

6:15--AL Manager Tom Kelly deprives Brown of an opportunity to register a quality start by bringing in Jack McDowell to pitch the second inning. . . .

6:21--It is announced in the press box that Atlee Hammaker, who gave up six hits in the third inning of the 1983 All-Star game, has been erased from the record book. . . .

6:25--The junior circuit continues to frolic as Ken Griffey Jr. hits a home run. . . .

6:35--Only in America! Larry Walker of the Montreal Expos gets the NL’s first hit, an infield single off Juan Guzman of the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning. . . .

6:40--Bonds, seeking an $8-million-a-year contract, fouls out to Boggs with the bases loaded. . . .

7:12--Griffey doubles in the sixth inning to go along with his home run and single. I hope Kelly leaves him in so he can try for the cycle. . . .

7:20--A trickle to the exits begins in the sixth after Ruben Sierra hits a two-run homer off Bob Tewksbury to make it 10-0. . . .

7:29--In case anyone has forgotten what a great all-round player Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn is, he throws out his second runner of the night at second base. . . .

7:30--There will be no cycle. Griffey is replaced by Roberto Kelly in center field in the bottom of the sixth. . . .

7:31--There will be no shutout. Against the Angels’ Mark Langston, Fred McGriff singles Bonds home from second. . . .

8:12--Will Clark hits a three-run homer to close the gap to 13-4. . . .

8:25--Dennis Eckersley relieves Rick Aguilera with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Does Eckersley get a save if he holds onto any part of the nine-run lead? . . .

8:37--A 28-man roster isn’t big enough for Cox. He runs out of pinch-hitters and pitcher Norm Charlton strikes out for the final out. Americans 13, Nationals 6. . . .

8:38--Maybe Fay Vincent should shift the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins to the National League and the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins to the American.