Cleveland Indians Prospect Erik Gonzalez Shines in Triple-A All-Star Game

Erik Gonzalez Shines in Triple-A All-Star Game

He wasn’t the top prospect in last night’s Triple-A All-Star Game, but Cleveland Indians’ shortstop Erik Gonzalez really shined brightest as the International League team beat the Pacific Coast League All-Stars 4-2 in Charlotte. Gonzalez, who was the starting shortstop of the International League, went 1 for 4 with a key solo home run in the bottom of the 2nd inning to get his team on the board and cut the deficit in half at 2-1. 

More from Away Back Gone

• Cleveland Guardians tantalizingly close to locking up AL Central tiebreakers
• Cleveland Guardians: Terry Francona becomes meme in profanity-laced ejection
• Say goodbye to defensive shifts and hello to bigger bases, pitch clock in 2023
• Cleveland Guardians: Shane Bieber second-fastest to 800 strikeouts in major-league history
• The next week will make or break the Cleveland Guardians’ season

His home run was one of three solo shots that the International League squad hit in route to their victory.  The other two were hit by Philidelphia Phillies prospect Andrew Knapp, who tied the game at two in the bottom of the 4th, and Boston Red Sox prospect Chris Marrero who extended the team’s lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the 8th. Marrero would go on to be named the Top Star of the game for the International League, an honor he likely got in part to winning the Home Run Derby the day before. While Marrero may not have been a bad choice, Gonzalez failing to win the honor felt a bit wrong.

Not only did Gonzalez hit that key home run to get the team on the board, but he played the entire game at shortstop and played phenomenally in the field. His biggest and best play came in the 9th inning when he may have saved the game by turning a highlight reel double play. With a runner on first and no outs, Gonzalez ranged behind second base and glove-flipped the ball to second to start the crucial double play. If that ball gets into center field the tying run is on base with no outs, but instead, there were two outs and no one on.

So sure, Gonzalez may not have been the “star” of the night, but you’d be hard pressed to say he wasn’t the most valuable player of the game with his all-around play.

Clevinger and Armstrong Shine as Well

Gonzalez wasn’t the only Columbus Clipper to shine in the game the two pitchers in the game also played well. Reminiscent of the Major League All-Star game when Corey Kluber relieved starter Chris Sale with his team down, Mike Clevinger relieved starter Jason Wheeler in the third after Wheeler allowed a two-run home run to put the International League All-Stars in an early 2-0 hole. Clevinger would work a clean 1-2-3 inning and struck out a pair in his only inning of work.

Clippers’ reliever Shawn Armstrong also played a big role, coming on in the top of the 7th inning with the score 3-2 and the tying run at second base with just one out. Armstrong showed off that electric arm of his and held the lead, striking out both batters he faced before being relieved to start the 8th inning.  Between Clevinger and Armstrong, the two pitched 1 2/3 innings without allowing a base runner and striking out four of the five batters they faced. In fact, the pair combined for nearly half the strikeouts the International League pitching staff threw on the night (nine).

Next: Akron Rubberducks Host Eastern League All-Star Game

The win for the International League team means that the league champion will get home field advantage in the Triple-A National Championship game in September against the champion of the Pacific Coast League. Like with the big league Cleveland Indians, the Columbus Clippers hold a division league at the moment so this home field advantage could play big dividends come September and the Clippers have their own players, especially Erik Gonzalez to thank for it.