PORTLAND, ME - In the state known more for its lobsters and pine trees rather than its baseball, Hadlock Field was the home to the Double-A Eastern League All-Star game Wednesday night for the first time since 2005. Talent from all around the East and West divisions were showcased with Portland Sea Dogs’ own Marco Hernandez, and a very unique Home Run Derby Shootout, stealing the show as the Eastern League East All-Stars topped the West in what was one of the craziest finishes ever seen in professional baseball.

The festivities began for the All-Star event earlier that evening with Dan Gamache of the Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates) took the Home Run Derby crown. Come to find out this wouldn’t be the last glimpse fans got at the ‘derby type atmosphere.

William Cuevas of the Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox) got the start for the East All-Stars in his home park and he didn’t disappoint throwing one perfect inning to begin the game. Another Sea Dog, Marco Hernandez, then led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a single, eventually coming around to score when Jantzen Witte, a Portland Sea Dog as well, grounded into a double play.  

The East All-Stars added to their lead in the 2nd inning when Jake Cave of the Trenton Thunder (Yankees) hit a sacrifice fly that scored Brandon Nimmo of the Binghamton Mets (Mets). Marco Hernandez then came to the plate again and shot a two-run home run into the U.S. Cellular Pavilion in right field giving the East All-Stars a 4-0 lead after just two innings.

The West All-Stars got a run back in the 3rd when Rando Moreno (Richmond/Giants) plated Todd Hankins (Akron/Indians) with a groundout to second base.

The score remained 4-1 East All-Stars until the top of the 7th inning when the West made their comeback. Wynton Bernard (Erie/Tigers) drilled a RBI-triple to right field making the East lead only 4-2. Bernard then came down from third base to score on Anthony Gallas’ (Akron/Indians) RBI single. It was then Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospect, Josh Bell, who came up with the bases loaded down by one run and on a 3-1 count he had a grand slam go just barely foul of the pole in right field. Instead, Bell induced a two-out bases loaded walk tying the game at 4-4.

The game remained tied after 9 innings of play and in one of the craziest, strangest, and most unheard of things, this All-Star game went into a Home Run Derby Shootout. Yes, you heard that right. A. Home. Run. Derby. Shootout.

Now here were the official rules:

“Each manager will select three representatives to receive one swing for a home run until all six have taken a swing. Batters will alternate between the East & West. The West team will swing first and the East team will get “last ups.” If the score (# of HR) remains tied after three batters per team, each manager will continue to choose one player at a time to swing. A member of the coaching staff for each team will pitch to their own team”

It was the most out-of-this-world way to end a baseball game - and it was absolutely brilliant.

The West All-Star hitters selected were: Dean Greene (Erie/Tigers), Ricky Oropesa (Richmond/Giants), and the Eastern League HR Derby champion Dan Gamache (Altoona/Pirates).

The East All-Star hitters selected were: Brock Stassi (Reading/Phillies), Brian Pointer (Reading/Phillies), and K.C. Hobson (New Hampshire/Blue Jays).

After countless at bats and balls barely going foul down the right field line, it was Brian Pointer of the East All-Stars who finally put one into the right field Pavilion during sudden death and was swarmed by East teammates - a walkoff.

Words can’t describe how exciting, outlandish, and astonishing watching a game end on a walkoff Home Run Derby Shootout was. Could this be the future of baseball? Chances are extremely unlikely, but that doesn’t take away the history that was made at Hadlock Field Wednesday night.

Marco Hernandez took home the MVP honors for his 2-2 and two-run home run that allowed the East All-Stars the chance to win, ending one of the most extraordinary nights in professional baseball.

Top Prospects in the Game:

Brandon Nimmo (Binghamton Mets/New York Mets): Nimmo is ranked number 48 in Baseball America’s Midseason Top 50 Prospects. He went 1-4 on the night but his one hit, a double in the 2nd, is what started that three-run inning for the East All-Stars.

Josh Bell (Altoona Curve/Pittsburgh Pirates): Bell is ranked number 46 in Baseball America’s Midseason Top 50 Prospects. He was 1-4 in the game with one RBI and just missed potentially giving the West All-Stars the win with a grand slam that hooked foul in the 7th inning.

Both Nimmo and Bell were featured in the Futures All-Star Game last Sunday in Cincinnati, Ohio.