Bryce Harper comes up empty in All-Star Game (Franchise Four announced)

Major League Baseball announced the Franchise Four for each of the 30 teams prior to this evening's All-Star Game in Cincinnati. All four players named for the Washington Nationals played during the Montreal Expos era.

C Gary Carter
.262, 324 HR, 1225 RBIs

RF Andre Dawson
.279, 438 HR, 1591 RBIs

RF Vladimir Guerrero
.318, 449 HR, 1496 RBIs

LF Tim Raines
.294, 170 HR, 980 RBI

Ryan Zimmerman was the only Nationals player included in the online voting process on MLB.com. Who would be your Franchise Four if MLB made it exclusive to the first decade of Nationals' baseball in D.C.?

MLB also named Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Sandy Koufax and Willie Mays as the four greatest living players.

The All-Star Game is under way. Angels center fielder Mike Trout started the game with a solo home run off Dodgers right-hander Zack Grienke. The bullet to right was the first leadoff homer in an All-Star Game since Bo Jackson went deep to begin the 1989 Midsummer Classic.

Bryce Harper set bat white.jpgBryce Harper is due up third in the bottom of the inning.

Update: Harper battled AL starter Dallas Keuchel (Astros) to a full count before grounding out to third baseman Josh Donaldson (Blue Jays) to end the inning. Harper nearly beat Donaldson's throw to first.

Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta tied the game with a two-out RBI single in the second.

Update II: Tigers left-hander David Price struck out Harper to start the fourth. Harper is a combined 0-for-5 with a walk in his three All-Star appearances.

Update III: The AL added two runs with two outs off Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in the fifth. Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder knocked a single to left scoring Trout and then Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain delivered a double plating Angels first baseman Albert Pujols.

Update IV: Harper has improved his performance against left-handers drastically this season, batting .329 with five homers, 11 doubles, 19 walks and 16 RBIs in 85 at-bats. Tonight, Harper didn't fare as well. AL manager Ned Yost served Harper a heavy dose of three of the game's toughest lefties in his three plate appearances.

In the sixth inning, it was Orioles closer Zach Britton, who got Harper swinging on a filthy changeup.

Harper was replaced by Padres outfielder Justin Upton to start the seventh. Harper finished the night 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen led off the six with a solo homer, but the AL responded in the seventh.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado smacked an RBI double and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Fielder.

Update V: The American League beats the National League 6-3.

Price gets the win for the AL while Kershaw suffers the loss.

Trout wins the MVP for the second straight year after going 1-for-3 with a homer, RBI, walk and two runs scored.




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