Twenty-two years after former Indians catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. became the first player ever to win the All-Star Game MVP Award in his home ballpark, pitcher Shane Bieber became the third, as he earned the honor after throwing a perfect inning of work out of the bullpen and becoming the first Cleveland pitcher to strike out the side in the MLB All-Star Game.
The memory was named the Moment of the Year at the 2020 Greater Cleveland Sports Awards Wednesday night.
On in relief during the top of the fifth inning, Bieber set down the National League, 1-2-3, with three strikeouts to preserve a 1-0 lead for the American League after four-and-a-half innings of play in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game.
As the crowd chanted “Let’s go, Bieber” with great passion and at deafening decibel levels, Bieber wound up and struck out Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. looking for the final out of the top of the fifth inning.