Lorenzo Cain enjoys successful All-Star Game debut

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (July 15, 2015) – Lorenzo Cain’s star enjoyed another shining moment on Tuesday evening when the former Tallahassee Community College Eagle and current Kansas City Royal helped lead the American League to a 6-3 win over the National League in Major League Baseball’s 2015 All-Star Game in Cincinnati. 

Cain, who hails from nearby Madison, Fla., and played for head coach Mike McLeod’s Eagles in 2005, started in right field for the American League, batted fifth and finished 2-for-3 with a RBI and stolen base. In a game that featured a combined 24 strikeouts, he was the only player on either team to have multiple hits and the first Royals hitter with two base knocks in an All-Star Game since the legendary Bo Jackson in 1989.   

Cain’s performance put him on the short list of Most Valuable Player candidates, an award that eventually went to Los Angeles Angels centerfielder Mike Trout. 

After popping up to second base in his initial at-bat, Cain singled off San Francisco Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner in his next plate appearance and stole second when Kansas City teammate Salvador Perez reached base on a strikeout. His third and final at-bat proved to be his biggest moment. 

With two outs and a run already on the board in the fifth, Cain roped an RBI-double into the left field corner off Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Clayton Kershaw to push the American League’s lead to 3-1. 

Cain’s night ended when Detroit Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez entered the game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the sixth. 

When regular season play resumes Friday, Cain and the Royals, who own the American League’s best record, will look to improve on a 4.5 game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the Central Division.