MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Derek Jeter started his last All-Star game with a long ovation and a leadoff double, and Miguel Cabrera followed with a two-run homer to lift the American League to a 3-2 lead over the National League through three innings on Tuesday night.
In the annual gathering of the game’s best, Jeter was the honored guest this year. The presence of the 40-year-old New York Yankees shortstop, who will retire after the season, prompted a steady stream of cheers from the crowd at Target Field. Before he stepped to the plate, he waved to admirers in the seats and on the field before digging in and hitting a double for the AL against Adam Wainwright of St. Louis.
Mike Trout drove in Jeter with a triple. Then Cabrera’s smash was the first to leave an All-Star field in two years. Nobody went deep in 2013.
The Milwaukee Brewers comprised one-third of the NL lineup this year, and they helped bring the NL right back in the second inning against Jon Lester. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez of the Brewers hit a one-out single to start the rally and scored on a double by Philadelphia’s Chase Utley.
Milwaukee catcher Jonathan Lucroy followed with an RBI double to cut the lead to 3-2.