All-Star Spotlight: Victor Martinez

Tomorrow night, Victor Martinez will take the field as the Indians lone member of the American League All-Star team. Last season in the Bronx, Cliff Lee started for the AL and pitched two solid innings, while striking out two batters. Grady Sizemore also participated going 1-for-5 and scoring a run in the American League’s 15-inning, 5-4 victory. This year will mark Martinez’s third appearance in the midsummer classic.

In his two previous appearances (2004 and 2007), Martinez recorded two total at-bats. But he will be remembered by Tribe fans for what he did during the 2007 matchup in San Francisco. With a slim 3-2 lead for the AL entering the 8th inning, Martinez came in to pinch hit for the pitcher’s slot, and promptly launched a two-run homer over the left field fence. This gave the American League a 5-2 lead, but also provided the deciding runs as the National League rallied in the bottom of the ninth to fall 5-4.

On the year, Martinez is batting .294 with 14 home runs, 59 RBIs, and 54 runs scored. With injuries to key players such as Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner, Victor has definitely had to pull more than just his own weight for the club this year. In such a trying season, Victor Martinez remains to be one of the bright spots for the fans, and the organization as a whole…hopefully for future seasons as well! Congrats, Victor!