European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 14, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday july 14,1988 the stars and stripes Page 17 Steinbach boosts Al to 2-1 win by Ben Walker Cincinnati a new faces gave the All Star game a new look and a new Winner. But like last year it was Dull and it got old fast. Terry Steinbach the weakest hitter on either roster homered in his first All Star at Bat and had a sacrifice Fly that led newcomer Frank Viola and the american league Over the nationals 2-1 tuesday night. I was nervous. I did t want to strike out or Embar Rass myself admitted Steinbach batting Only .217 for Oakland. Instead the embarrassment went to Whitey Herzog. 59th All Star game he became the first no manager to lose three times in a game it usually dominates. It s just one of those things Herzog said. The no still leads 37-21, yet lost for Only the fourth time in 26 years. There were 30 new faces the most Ever including 18 for the National leagues. Minnesota s Viola who beat Herzog s St. Louis cardinals in game 7 of the world series retired All six batters he faced in his first All Star appearance. The Steinbach Home run got us going Viola said. Not much else was going on. The Al got Only six hits and the no just five. Last season in a year when Home runs were up 25 percent the nationals yawned to 2-0 Victory in 13 innings. There were a few Nice plays including a diving Stop by three time Gold Glove first baseman Don matting by in the seventh inning that preserved the Lead. But not much else. The biggest cheer of the night and it was t that loud came when Cincinnati s Chris Sabo the Only Rookie in the game stole a base As a Pinch runner. It was a great experience. I m just sorry it has ended so quickly Sabo said. It was Over in 2 hours 26 minutes the shortest ail Star game since 1976, yet it was a Blessing on a muggy night that was filled with expectations but fulfilled none of  Only drama came when Steinbach connected against Dwight Gooden. Steinbach who homered in his first major league at Bat in 1986, became the first player since Lee Mazzill in 1979 to Homer in his initial All Star at Bat. The Guys were teasing me. They re already saying i m an answer to a trivia question Steinbach said. Steinbach s election As the Al s Catcher in fan bal letting was sharply criticized. But playing at the weakest position in the majors he was one of three athletics elected and his selection As the most valuable player of the All Star game was unanimous. Well he must be doing something right in Oak land Al manager Tom Kelly said. He sure proved sports Oakland s Terry Steinbach blasts a second inning Al Homer As Catcher Gary Carter and Umpire Frank Pulli watch. He belonged  Steinbach also hit a bases loaded sacrifice Fly to the warning track in the fourth against Bob Knepper. That was All for the Al which had managed Only five runs in the last four All Star games. That was enough however As eight pitchers shut Down the no. Viola set Down All six hitters he faced which earned him the Victory. Dennis Eckersley Lead ing the majors with 26 saves got the final three batters. The crowd of 55,837 included vice president George Bush. Steinbach sent an 0-1 pitch from Gooden Over the right Field Fence As outfielder Darryl Strawberry jumped and made Contact with the Ball. It hit my Glove As i was coming Down trying to pull the Ball Back Strawberry said. I kind of had it until my Glove hit the Wall and it just hopped out. It s a catch you can  Gooden the starter and loser in the 1986 game was nicked for three hits in three innings. Knepper his Relief did no better As Dave Winfield hit a one out double in the fourth. Winfield s seven All Star doubles Are a record and enabled him to tie Mickey Mantle and Joe Morgan by hitting safely in his seventh straight game. A walk to Cal Ripken and Mark Mcgwire s single loaded the bases then Steinbach flied out to left Field scoring Winfield. The no retired in order by Viola and Clemens got three of its hits in the fourth against Kansas City s Mark Gubicza. Vince Coleman led off with a soft sin Gle to left Field promptly stole second and continued to third when Steinbach s throw bounced into Center. After Ryne Sandberg struck out for the second time making him 1 for 12 in All Star Competition Coleman see All Star on Page 22 Al s secret of Cerf with perfect pitching by Chuck Melvin Cincinnati a the american league now has the secret to winning the All Star game perfect pitching to Start. Frank Viola and Roger Clemens set the Standard tuesday night and the rest of the Al pitchers Felt obligated to match. And they had to. There s a negative wave that goes through the Tail nobody wants to be the Goat said Oakland s Dennis eckers Ley who pitched a perfect ninth inning to get the save in the 2-1 Victory Over the nationals the second in three years for the Al. They could hit one out and you d walk off a , Minnesota s 14-game Winner started the game by retiring the first six National league hitters four of them on Groundnuts one on a strikeout. Boston Clemens who pitched three perfect in More on stars Page 22 rings to Start the Al s 3-2 Victory two years ago then retired the Side in order in the third striking out one. I liked doing this better than the first time Clemens said. This was a Little easier a Little less hectic. Loosening up last night under the stadium i probably threw a Little harder than i did  manager Tom Kelly said he used his staff almost exactly As he had Hope to with none of the eight pitchers going longer than two  and defense won this game Kelly said. Last year in Oakland it was Twilight that made the difference but to night it was just the  the american league allowed Only one tainted run on five hits in winning for just the third time in the last 17 years fourth in 26. The nationals Only run came off Kan Sas City s Mark Gubicza in the fourth. St Louis Vince Coleman singled stole second continued to third when Catcher Terry Steinbach s throw bounced into Center for an error and came Home on a wild  no had three runners As far As second after that but could t score. Everybody did a Good Job and then i came in there said Eckersley who leads the majors with 26 saves. I was typically nervous. It crosses your mind that you could blow it but that goes right  Milwaukee s Dan Plesac faced Only one Batter but struck out Darryl Straw Berry with a runner on first in the eighth inning. Everybody who pitched tonight for the american league did a super Job Plesac said. In a game like that you Don t want to be the Goat. Make one bad pitch to Darryl Strawberry and he can hit it 500  pitching has dominated the All Star game throughout this decade. A team has scored six or More runs Only twice since 1980, the Al winning 13-3 in 1983 and the no winning 6-1 in 1985