ARLINGTON, Texas — “Be Like Mike.” Of all the songs to run in from the bullpen to, All-Star had the gumption — — to pick that one Tuesday at Globe Life Field. Who knows? Gatorade might make an ad with the Japanese rookie someday, as it famously did with in the “Be Like Mike” campaign of 1991.
Imanaga — who uses the name Mike with his neighborhood baristas just to simplify things — backed it up by retiring American Leaguers , and in order in the fourth inning. “Obviously, I want to be like Mike,” Imanaga said via a translator. “However, he’s so great that I have to put in a lot of work to get there.
Hopefully, once I do, the people of Chicago and the fans will accept me.” Cubs fans have accepted him completely; it’s the team’s record they’re worried about. But on this night, it was all about Imanaga.
“I kind of felt like I was floating,” he said. And he got to be in the house for a three-run homer swatted by countryman , which was a thrill — mostly. “He’s another level up,” Imanaga said of the Dodgers megastar.
“He’s the [biggest] star. And so I was a little jealous.” The AL won the 94th All-Star Game 5-3, the 22nd time in the last 27 meetings it has come out on top.
No pitcher came in hotter — between the lines or in terms of his rising fame — than NL starter . The Pirates sensation got the nod to start despite being the first player to be selected to an All-Star Game in the season after he was drafted. What’s more ama.
