N.Y. farmhand wins it with dramatic HR

09:39 AM EDT on Thursday, July 15, 2004

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

AP photo Columbus Clippers second baseman Andy Phillips, in batting helmet, is congratulated by his International League teammates after hitting the game-winning two-run home run in the 10th inning last night at McCoy Stadium. The International League beat the Pacific Coast League 4-3.

PAWTUCKET -- It's over.

But before the 17th annual Triple-A All-Star game and all its fanfare concluded last night at McCoy Stadium, history was made.

For the first time ever, the game went into extra innings. League rules state that an extra-inning All-Star game can only go 10 innings. Just when it seemed like this one would end in a tie, the Columbus Clippers' Andy Phillips made sure it didn't.

With two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Phillips hammered a 1-0 offering by the Tacoma Rainiers' Scott Atchison into the left-center field berm to give the International League a dramatic 4-3 victory.

It was the first time -- probably the only time -- PawSox and Red Sox fans were cheering for a New York Yankee.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," said Phillips. "To be in this situation and to have a chance to win it at the end, but most importantly just to get to experience this game and being able to play with these great players that have been in the big leagues, or will see in the big leagues, it was just an awesome experience. Whether I would have hit the home run there or not, this was a great thrill and I was just happy to be a part of it."

Phillips, 27, who was selected by the New York Yankees in the 1999 draft, came into the All-Star break with a .327 average, including 15 homers and 46 RBI in 66 games. He was selected as the Yankees' Minor League Player of the Year in 2002 while with Double-A Norwich.

Journal photo / Ruben W. Perez Pawtucket's Earl Snyder got a chance to show off his arm in the third inning last night when he threw out Albuquerque's Larry Sutton while on the run.

"No matter where it is, this was an unbelievable feeling," added Phillips. "This is something I'll definitely cherish the rest of my life. This is definitely one of the only times Red Sox fans were actually happy with a Yankee guy."

Phillips, who was named the Star of the Game, hit a hanging slider for the game-winning homer.

"After I hit it, it felt pretty good," he said. "I knew it definitely had a chance, and I was just fortunate to get a pitch to hit there."

In his first at-bat, Phillips had struck out on three pitches.

"I was just trying not to totally embarrass myself, my family and this organization," said Phillips. "That's what an All-Star game is all about -- for guys to get to play and to enjoy the experience, win or lose. You want to win and we're all competitors, and just to be able to take a breather from the regular grind and enjoy something like this . . . I mean, there were so many dramatics in this game and I know the fans had to enjoy it."

Midre Cummings, who was named the IL Player of the Game and hit a solo homer in the eighth to give his club a 3-2 lead, was on deck and told Phillips that he wasn't even going to put on his batting gloves.

"I don't know if that was a compliment or if he was giving up hope on me," said Phillips. "The ball got out of the park and we get to enjoy this win."

Pitching dominated the game, but it was the three home runs by the International League -- Joe Vitiello added a two-run shot in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2 -- that led to the victory.

"I was kidding with Andy before the game," said Pawtucket and IL All-Star manager Buddy Bailey. "I said 'Andy this is going to be one of the only times you and me will be pulling for the same team, wearing these two different uniforms.' He just laughed about it and agreed with me."

A year ago, the IL defeated the PCL, 13-9, in Memphis, Tenn., and it was former PawSox stars Lou Collier, who played last night as a member of the PCL club, and Anton French who stole the show. Both collected three hits, including a home run each.

This year's PawSox contingent of Earl Snyder, Tim Kester, Andy Dominique, Bailey, Mike Griffin and trainer Bill Coffey couldn't get over the excitement surrounding this week's events.

"Pawtucket Red Sox baseball has had a lot of firsts," said Bailey. "The Longest Game, first Triple-A (All-Star) game to go into extra innings, and the first time our fans are going to pull for the Yankees. History repeated itself tonight."