2006 AAA All-Star Game

The 2006 AAA All-Star Game was played on July 12, 2006 in Toledo, OH. The event was hosted by the Toledo Mud Hens, the AAA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.

The International League served as the home team. The IL All-Stars were managed by Larry Parrish of the hosting Toledo Mud Hens. His assistants were Ron Johnson of the Pawtucket Red Sox and Jeff Jones also of the Toledo Mud Hens. The Pacific Coast League team was managed by Mike Jirschele of the Omaha Royals. Alan Cockrell of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and Stan Kyles of the Nashville Sounds served as his coaches. The game was broadcast on ESPN2 with Jon Sciambi, Buck Martinez and Duke Castiglione calling the game.

International League pitchers dominated the game allowing only two hits and no runs over the course of the nine innings. On the International League side after Jorge Velandia scored on a wild pitch, Kevin Witt hit a two run homer to put them up 3-0. Witt also picked up an RBI double in the fifth. Kevin Barker and Ryan Raburn hit back to back solo homers in the seventh to score the final two runs for the IL. Heath Phillips of the Charlotte Knights got the win while the loss was given to Ben Hendrickson of the Nashville Sounds.

The Top Stars Awards were given to the game MVP from each team. The International League award went to Kevin Witt of the Durham Bulls who went 3-3 with a home run and 3 RBI. Rich Hill of the Iowa Cubs won the award for the PCL. Hill pitched the first two innings stuck out two and allowed one hit.

The game featured a number of future big leaguers including 2008 National League Rookie of the Year Award winner Geovany Soto, Howie Kendrick, Luke Scott, Nelson Cruz, James Loney, Stephen Drew, Ryan Ludwick and B.J. Upton.

Starting Lineups

International League				Batting Order		Pacific Coast League
Player	Position	Team				Player	Position	Team
Chris Denorfia	CF	Louisville Bats		1		Tony Gwynn, Jr.	CF	Nashville Sounds
Joe Thurston	2B	Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons		2		Howie Kendrick	2B	Salt Lake Bees
Josh Fields	3B	Charlotte Knights		3		Luke Scott	LF	Round Rock Express
Kevin Witt	1B	Durham Bulls		4		Nelson Cruz	RF	Nashville Sounds
Josh Rabe	LF	Rochester Red Wings		5		Larry Broadway	DH	New Orleans Zephyrs
Ernie Young	DH	Charlotte Knights		6		Justin Leone	3B	Portland Beavers
Ryan Ludwick	RF	Toledo Mud Hens		7		James Loney	1B	Las Vegas 51s
Shawn Riggans	C	Durham Bulls		8		Stephen Drew	SS	Tucson Sidewinders
Jorge Velandia	SS	Charlotte Knights		9		Geovany Soto	C	Iowa Cubs
Charlie Haeger	P	Charlotte Knights		SP		Rich Hill	P	Iowa Cubs

Box Score

Sources

AAA Baseball