Trout misses on third consecutive MVP; shoes a hit

SAN DIEGO >> Mike Trout did not win a car, but maybe he sold some shoes.

His streak of two consecutive All-Star Game MVP awards, each eaing him a new car as his reward, came to an end in Tuesday’s game at Petco Park.

He was, however, the man behind 36 pairs of interesting shoes.

That’s how many All-Stars were adoed by Nike in Zoom Trout 3’s, multi-colored fluorescent shoes.

“Yeah, I’m responsible for them,” he said. “I like them. They’re bright.”

No matter what the general public feels about them, it’s not likely that Trout or Nike will be hard up anytime soon. The same goes for Trout having to settle for the same old cars he had before the game.

“I think I’ll be all right,” he said with a smile.

Can’t expect him to win the MVP all the time.

Trout is already one of five players to win the All-Star Game MVP twice and the only one to do it twice in a row. He won the awards in 2014 in Miesota and 2015 in Cinciati, in games that he opened with a triple and a homer, respectively. That continued a patte for Trout, who singled in his first at-bat in 2012 and doubled in his first time up in 2013.

All he did in his first at-bat this time, against San Francisco’s Johy Cueto, was bounce a single up the middle.

Trout did become the first player to have a hit in his first plate appearance of the game in five consecutive All-Star Games.

He also became the first American League player to have hits in his first five All-Star Games, with Joe Morgan, Willie Mays, Steve Garvey, Carlos Beltran and David Wright accomplishing the feat for the National League.

His chances of wiing that third MVP died when he made outs in his next two trips, including a strikeout in his first look at Miami Marlins ace Jose Feandez. Feandez threw him a tight, 85 mph curveball on a 3-and-2 count and Trout swung through it.

“It was tough,” Trout said. “I was seeing him all right. (The curve) was in the back of my mind. I was kind of inbetween on that 3-2. I thought he was going to challenge me, but what are you goa do?”

In the fourth, Trout came up with Jackie Bradley Jr. at first base and Drew Pomeranz on the mound. He yanked a grounder to third for a fielder’s choice.

Soon after that, it was clear that Trout’s ownership of the All-Star Game had ended, at least for this year. David Ortiz drew a walk and as he came back to the dugout when he was lifted for a pinch-ruer, the entire AL squad came out of the dugout and gave the retiring slugger a standing ovation.

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“It was great to experience,” said Trout, one of the first players to hug Ortiz as he made his way toward the dugout. “I was very fortunate to do that. It’s been special to spend time with him in the clubhouse. You can’t take this for granted.”

Trout has clearly leaed from veterans such as Ortiz of how to make the most of his All-Star experience. He said each year he enjoys it more, as he gets a better idea of the routine and know what he wants to focus his time on.

“I try to enjoy every minute of it,” he said. “The first couple went so fast, I tried to do everything. Now, I can enjoy it more.”

Car or no car.

“I don’t think about that stuff,” Trout said. “The last two I went out there and played.”

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