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DETROIT -- Reliever Chad Cordero said that he is proud of
the fact that he and Livan Hernandez are the first two players
to represent the Nationals in an All-Star Game. In fact, they
are the first players to represent a Washington team in a
Midsummer Classic since Frank Howard donned a Senators uniform
in 1971.
Cordero admitted he was nervous before the game. He realized
that millions of people will watch him perform on the mound
for the first time.
"You have the best players in the league. Hopefully, I get
to face them, but it's kind of nerve-wracking," Cordero said
before the game.
It turns out that Cordero was nervous until he entered the
2005 All-Star Game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth
inning. And Cordero didn't appear nervous at all as he struck
out hometown favorite Ivan Rodriguez to end the inning. Even
more surprising is that Cordero struck out Rodriguez with
a slider. During the first half of the season, Cordero threw
nothing but fastballs.
"I wanted to take advantage of that opportunity because it
may never happen again. I just went out there and had a good
time with it." Cordero said. "It felt real good to strike
out Ivan Rodriguez."
After being involved in the All-Star festivities, Hernandez
said he needed a little rest and that he will not start against
the Brewers on Thursday as scheduled. Instead, according to
Hernandez, he will pitch on Friday against Milwaukee, though
the club has yet to make any formal decision.
"Being here for three days is not easy," Hernandez said.
"I don't want to try to do something and [then] the body will
not take it."
Hernandez was not tired on Tuesday as he pitched one inning
and gave up two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth
inning. He gave up a two-run single to Mariners outfielder
Ichiro Suzuki.
It was Hernandez's first-ever appearance in an All-Star
Game.
Last season, he was selected to his first Midsummer Classic,
but didn't play in the game. Hernandez believes he didn't
play in the game because he was being saved just in the case
the game was tied.
Hernandez has accomplished so much during his nine-year
career, such as helping the Marlins win the 1997 World Series
and the winning the Silver Slugger Award last year. But Hernandez
never dreamed that he would be an All-Star in his career,
let alone a two-time All-Star.
"There are a lot of surprises in baseball. Being an All-Star
is something special and you need to enjoy it because you
don't know when you will come back again," Hernandez said.
"You need to enjoy the moment, especially with your family
here."
Hernandez said he is ready to pitch in the second half despite
playing with an inflamed right knee. According to Hernandez,
the knee will not be 100 percent until he has arthroscopic
surgery, which he is thinking about having after the season.
"The knee is good. It needed a little rest for the second
half. It will not be perfect, but it will be good [to play],"
Hernandez said.
Bill Ladson is a reporter for
MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major
League Baseball or its clubs.
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