Cardinals news and notes: All-Star Game, Next Two Weeks, Diaz

Even though the National League lost the All-Star game last night (again, they have a 22-6-1 record dating back to 1988), it was a spectacular game with big contributions from the Cardinals. Carlos Martinez was the only pitcher in the game besides AL starter Chris Sale to be handed the ball for more than one inning and he struck out four in two scoreless frames.

In the bottom of the 6th inning, Yadier Molina tied the game at one with a solo home run the opposite way. It was a wonderful moment and Molina seemed to be enjoying every minute of it during his trip around the bases.

Molina was the first Cardinal to homer in the All-Star Game since Reggie Smith in 1974. And, he also became the oldest catcher to go deep in the mid-summer classic, beating out St. Louis native Yogi Berra. If you missed it, Yogi’s granddaughter Lindsay took the news in stride.

And here’s what happened yesterday at VEB (only two more days until we get baseball again..whew):

• Craig Edwards explained why the next two weeks of baseball will have a profound impact on the rest of the Cardinals’ season.
• Aledmys Diaz is not having a good sophomore campaign. Ben Markham explains.
• I missed yesterday’s Home Run Derby but I soon learned to the surprise of no one that Aaron Judge hit a bunch of home runs (30, in fact) and he hit them very far. Here’s Lil Scooter with a recap of the evening.
• And speaking of home runs, Kolten Wong hit one the other day in Springfield. Hopefully he’ll be doing that in St. Louis very soon. (Read the rest of the farm report here.)

That should do it. No baseball today but try to enjoy your Wednesday anyway.