We came for the starsā¦ we stayed for the dramaā¦ and now, weāre holding our breath for Caitlin.
Welcome to Wednesday and the three things you need to know!
1ļøā£ The Derby Came Back šļø
We spent the week hyping the MLBā¦ the robot umpires, the Draft, and the Derby.
Last night? The AllāStar Game was awesome.
š„ Youāve got to see this:
Waitā¦ what just happened?
Tied 6ā6 after nine innings.
And this was not the first AllāStar tie ever.
In 1961, rain ended it early.
In 2002, the game went to 11 inningsā¦ and both teams ran out of pitchers! (In All-Star Games, teams try to let every pitcher play, so no one throws too long.)
That led to a new rule: no more extra innings. If itās tied after nine, itās Home Run Derby swing-off time.
Three swings per player. Three players per team.
And last night, we saw it for the first time.
Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber hit three home runs in three swings to clinch the National Leagueās 4ā3 swing-off win.
And he won AllāStar Game MVP.
What. A. Night.
Now the stars return home and the race to the playoffs heats up! š§¢
2ļøā£ Strike Threeā¦ Called by Robot š¤
Ohā¦ and did they actually use the new Automated BallāStrike (ABS) system?
Yes!
In the first inning, Cal Raleigh (the Mariners catcher and Home Run Derby champ) challenged a close pitch that was called a ball.
š„ What did the ump-bot say?
Challenge successful! Itās a strikeout!
Out of five challenges in the game, four got the call changed.
Weāll have to wait and see if MLB goes ahead with a full rollout for next season.
3ļøā£ Please Be Okay, Caitlin! š¤
Now, the All-Star spotlight turns to the WNBA.
This weekend in Indy, the Wās best gather for their All-Star Game and basketballās version of a home run derby: the 3āPoint Contest.
The two biggest stars? Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu.
Itās shaping up to be epicā¦ but thereās a twist.
During the Indiana Feverās 85ā77 win over the Connecticut Sun last night, Clark re-injured her leg.
She left the floor in pain. Her coach confirmed sheās getting checked out by a doctor.
Fingers crossed sheās good to go, because this weekend without Caitlin just wouldnāt be the same.
We got the drama.
We got the Derby (twice!).
Now we just need Caitlin to be okay.
See you tomorrow, Smallballers!
OT