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The Rays sent two men to the All-Star game this season, rewarding the superior 2015 work of Rays newfound ace Chris Archer, and the superior 2014 performance of Brad Boxberger.
Boxy was warming at one point in the second inning when AL starter Dallas Keuchel startet getting wild, but never entered the game. All was well, however, as the American League clinched home field for the World Series with a 6-3 win, including work by Chris Archer across two innings.
In relief of none other than David Price, one of the Rays fan-voted "Franchise Four" (alongside Longoria, Zobrist, and Shields), Chris Archer was handed the fifth inning by AL manager Ned Yost.
After coaxing a flyout to center field by Home Run Derby participant Anthony Rizzo, Archer got amped and pushed his velocity to 97 MPH during a walk to Jhonny Peralta.
Archer followed by striking out Home Run Derby finalist Joc Pederson swinging, however, and then worked a line out by surprise NL second baseman DJ LeMahieu.
In the sixth inning, things weren't so rosy at the Great American Bandbox. Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen led the inning with a solo home run. Archer would settle down with a ground out of the Home Run Derby champion Todd Frazier, hero of Cincinnati, for his final player faced.
David Price was awarded the win for the American League, and Mike Trout was named the first ever back-to-back MVP of the mid-summer classic.
Combine the above with the incredible new Derby format, and this was most certainly the most fun I've had watching an All-Star Break since 2009. Hope you feel the same.