SAN DIEGO – You know how homecomings are. They’re fun, emotional and busy.
And not without a little tension.
For Kris Bryant, who starred at the University of San Diego before the Cubs made him the second pick in the 2013 draft, it didn’t hurt having his dad around for his second All-Star Game, either, because Mike Bryant told his son to look for a first-pitch fastball from White Sox ace Chris Sale.
“I’m like, ‘No dad, I’m going to take the first pitch,’ ” Bryant said. “Obviously I should listen to my dad more.”
Bryant ripped it into the left field seats to make it Cubs 1, White Sox 0, but in the end the American League prevailed with a 4-2 win over the National League.
Hours earlier, Bryant was talking about the anxiety that goes with playing in the Midsummer Classic.
“I guess it’s a little more stressful to me,’’ he said. “[But] it’s going to be a couple of days I’ll remember for a long time.’’
Will he ever, especially considering Bryant was 0-for-6 with six strikeouts against Sale in his rookie season in 2015.
“It’s special,’’ Bryant said. “The best players in the world are here. I really made the most of the moment.”
So much for stress. As a member of the Cubs, whom Jake Arrieta called “The Dallas Cowboys of baseball” Monday, Bryant should be used to the commotion. Cubs fans are present in large numbers everywhere the team goes.
But even so, the All-Star Game is something else.
“Every thing is so magnified,’’ Bryant said. “You don’t walk on a red carpet every day to the field. It’s really hard to put this in perspective. At the same time, we’re all trying to enjoy it and make the most of it.’’
Now that it’s over, the Cubs, armed with seven All-Stars, say they are eager to get back to the business of correcting a slide that has many of those flocking fans in panic mode. Not that Bryant has noticed.
“I don’t sense it at all,’’ he said.
Bryant insisted the feeling in the clubhouse over the 2-9 stretch leading to the All-Star break is the same as it was when they were 25-6. They continue to take the field expecting to win every day.
“We don’t feel different at all,’’ Bryant said.
The Cubs have taken solace that they practiced what manager Joe Maddon preached by “getting a good start because you don’t want to climb uphill.” At 53-35, they own a seven-game lead on the Cardinals in the NL Central.
“We’re doing some damage control here and hopefully we’ll come out with a bang in the second half,’’ said Bryant, the eighth Cub to homer in an All-Star Game, joining Alfonso Soriano (2007), Andre Dawson (1991) and Billy Williams (1964) most recently. At 24, he’s the youngest Cub to homer in the All-Star Game since Augie Galan (also 24) in 1936, and the youngest player since David Wright at age 23 in 2006.
Bryant came out with a bang in the first inning of the All-Star Game. Bring some of that to the second half, worried Cubs fans are saying.
“I am so excited for the second half. We have so much more in the tank with guys coming back, new guys like [catcher] Willson Contreras, it’s going to be a fun half if we’re clicking on all cylinders. We win as a team and lose as a team, learn from the losses and keep our heads level.’’
Kansas City Royals Eric Hosmer, the game’s MVP, and Salvador Perez homered against former Kansas City teammate Johnny Cueto over a six-pitch span in the second inning, and Hosmer added an RBI single to lift the AL to its fourth straight win and give the AL champion home field advantage in the World Series.
HOW THE CUBS AND SOX FARED:
KRIS BRYANT: Homered to left against Chris Sale, struck out against Cole Hamels. Played four innings at third base.
ANTHONY RIZZO: Grounded out to first base, singled down right field line. Played four innings at first base.
BEN ZOBRIST: Flied out, reached on fielder’s choice, played four innings at second base.
ADDISON RUSSELL: Flied out deep to center against Cole Hamels, grounded to shortstop, played three innings at shortstop.
JON LESTER: Pitched two thirds of the seventh inning, allowing baserunners on walk and error.
JAKE ARRIETA: Did not pitch.
CHRIS SALE: Allowed homer to Bryant, retired other three batters he faced including a strikeout of Wil Myers in 9-pitch inning.
JOSE QUINTANA: Pitched one scoreless inning. Struck out Wilson Ramos for third out with runners on second and third. Gave up double, another runner reaching on Jose Altuve error.
