Becoming the first Giants and A’s pitchers to surrender a home run in the same All-Star Game wasn’t the kind of history Will Smith and Liam Hendriks were looking to make Tuesday night.
Both Bay Area relievers had their first All-Star Game appearances spoiled by the longball in Cleveland as they gave up the only two home runs at Progressive Field, where the American League prevailed 4-3 in the 90th All-Star Game.
When Hendriks allowed a sixth-inning homer to the Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon and Smith was touched for a solo shot by the Rangers’ Joey Gallo an inning later, it marked just the second time in All-Star Game history pitchers from the same two-team market gave up a home run.