CALIFORNIA LEAGUE ALL-STAR BASEBALL GAME : Cal League Gets Tie for Argument Sake

Rarely has a game with no winner elicited such excitement.

The inaugural California League-Carolina League All-Star game on Tuesday night at the Epicenter ended in a 2-2 tie when both teams ran out of pitchers after 11 innings.

The excitement was generated by Joe Urso, the Lake Elsinore Storm’s 5-7 utility infielder, who pitched a scoreless 11th inning as the capacity crowd of 6,671 stood and chanted “Joe, Joe.”

There was also an animated on-field argument between Del Crandall, the Cal League’s manager, and Cal League president Joe Gagliardi. Crandall wanted to stop the game because he had no pitchers. Gagliardi insisted the game go on, pitchers or not.

“A game is a game,” Gagliardi said. “[Running out of pitchers] is not an excuse. So you have to use a position player, so what? He retired the side. It happens. It’s no big deal.”

Crandall, who ran through the seven pitchers on his roster after the 10th, said he wanted to call the game before any pitchers got hurt.

“We are in the development business, not the risk-taking business,” Crandall said.

Urso, throwing his 68 mph, “whaddya call it, slow ball,” retired the Carolina Leaguers in order.

Reliever Steve Prihoda of the Wilmington Blue Rocks retired the Cal League in the bottom of the 11th and the game ended.

Jose Cruz Jr. of the JetHawks was one for two, swinging at 3-and-0 pitches both times.

“I was just up there hacking,” Cruz said. “It was a great game. I don’t think you could ask for anything else.”

JetHawk right-hander Ken Cloude started game, giving up two runs, one earned, in two innings.

JetHawk outfielder Marcus Sturdivant went zero for three.

Second baseman Jason Cook played second base in the 11th.