ATLANTA -- David Wells didn't dominate the National League
like Pedro Martinez did a year ago in the All-Star Game. Yet, he
was every bit as effective.
Sent out to start a big game once again by Joe Torre, Wells met
the challenge, pitching two scoreless innings Tuesday night as the
American League beat the National League, 6-3.
|  | | David Wells started and threw two scoreless innings for the American League. |
"I enjoy the spotlight for the fact that I'm not afraid to
fail," said Wells, making his second All-Star start. "I want to
be the hero. If I lose, I can accept that as well. When you go out
there, a lot of guys can't accept failure."
Wells doesn't fail often. He leads the majors with 15 wins at
the All-Star break for Toronto and has a 3.44 ERA.
He hasn't allowed a run in 4 1/3 innings in three All-Star
appearances and helped lead the New York Yankees to a World Series
title in 1998 by going 4-0 in the postseason.
That was one reason why Torre, Wells' manager for two seasons in
New York, picked his former ace to start on the big stage.
The two even chatted in the AL dugout about how Wells should
approach his at-bat. Torre told Wells, "Just take three," so the
pitcher wouldn't hurt himself swinging for the fences.
He never got the chance to bat, however, and left the game unscathed.
"After the second inning, I felt a wet kiss on my cheek,"
Torre said. "It was Wells saying goodbye and thanking me for the
opportunity to pitch."
Wells was his usual efficient self. He threw 23 of 27 pitches
for strikes, including the first pitch to all eight batters, and
was touched for just a pair of singles.
It sure didn't rival Martinez blowing away the first four
batters and five of six overall last year at Fenway Park, but the
results were nearly the same.
"When you get ahead in the count, you can throw anything up
there," said Wells, who has walked just 18 batters in 128 1/3
innings this season. "If you show you've got command of your
pitches, they can't sit on a certain pitch. I had a good curveball
working tonight."
He used that pitch to freeze two All-Stars for third strikes.
One night after Sammy Sosa dazzled the Turner Field crowd with
his majestic shots hit to the farthest part of the stadium in the
Home Run Derby, he could only watch a third strike from Wells to
end the first. Jason Kendall went down the same way in the second
inning.
"When you get these guys with their bats on their shoulders,
it's a nice feeling," he said.
Wells' recent success has been especially sweet because the
Yankees gave up on him before the 1999 season. They
traded him to Toronto in a package for five-time Cy Young winner
Roger Clemens in spring training amid questions about his
conditioning and longevity.
Wells was devastated by the trade, forcing him out of the city
that embraced him and the limelight he loved so much. All he's done
since is go 32-12 while Clemens is 20-16.
And while Clemens is back home enjoying a three-day break, Wells
was once again back in the limelight.
"We had an adversarial relationship for a while," Torre said.
"We had our arguments, but it got to the point where we respected
each other."
Wells' only disappointment on the day was not getting a chance
to take his hacks at the plate. He was on-deck when the top of the
second inning ended. But Travis Fryman struck out, and Wells was
removed for a pinch-hitter in the third.
What would he have done if he got the chance to hit?
"Probably gone deep," he joked.
Then, he thought better of it.
"No, probably struck out -- knowing me," he added. | |
ALSO SEE
Jeter-led AL wins its fourth straight All-Star Game
|
