Tyler Clippard has odd All-Star Game appearance

Only one player represented the Washington Nationals in the 2011 MLB All-Star game and that was relief pitcher Tyler Clippard. The reliable righty came into the game in the 4th inning with two runners on and two outs. Forget the fact that an 8th inning guy pitched that early, ’cause that wasn’t the strange part. Clippard faced one batter and then left the game. Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre singled to left, but Hunter Pence of the Astros threw out the Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista at home plate to end the inning. In other words, Tyler didn’t retire a hitter, but recorded an out in an early clutch situation. An eventful first All-Star game indeed for the former starter. Prince Fielder of Milwaukee hit a three-run homer off Texas lefty C.J. Wilson to give the National League a 3-1 advantage. With the odd rulings regarding pitchers’ decisions in the mid-summer classic, it’s possible that Clippard could be the second consecutive Nationals pitcher to ...