I was certainly looking forward to seeing A’s breakout closer Mason Miller pitch in the All-Star Game, but I had no idea when it would happen. Would Bruce Bochy save him for later in the game, when he more traditionally enters?
Well, let’s just say I’m glad I didn’t have to wait that long. Miller entered in the fifth inning and annihilated the three batters before him in spectacular fashion. Ketel Marte swung at the first pitch at 101 mph and flew out to left, a far more respectable outcome than what happened to the next two batters.
Ohtani came up looking for another show-stopping moment and instead looked completely overwhelmed by Miller’s outrageous arsenal, as the fastball climbed to 102 mph before a wicked slider finished the job with a swinging strike three. And there was somehow another level to climb for Miller’s fastball against Trea Turner, as he touched 103.6 mph for ball one before working the count back into his favor and finishing Turner off with a slider on the inner half called for strike three.
Simply nasty stuff from Miller.
