College All-Stars take over Fenway Park

BOSTON -- Two teams of college players replaced major leaguers -- for a night -- at Fenway Park on Thursday as the Cape Cod League All-Star game returned to the venerable ballpark for the first time in 22 years.

With steady rain falling and fans sitting mostly between the first- and third-base lines -- with a few in the Green Monster seats above the left-field wall -- Arkansas' Zach Cox drove in two runs to lead the West past the East, 3-0, in a game called after 4 1/2 innings.

The Cape Cod League is the summer home of many of the nation's top college players. Split across 10 Massachusetts towns about 75 miles south of Boston, many future major league stars compete in the league, which uses wood bats.

As fans watched the potential future stars in action at the 97-year-old ballpark, there were reminders of the Red Sox. Former Cape League alumni and current Boston players Kevin Youkilis, Jacoby Ellsbury, Justin Masterson and Daniel Bard were on the cover of the game program; a glance at "The Wall" offered the day's American League East standings, with the Red Sox trailing the New York Yankees by two games; and usual announcer Carl Beane introduced the All-Stars.

The program cover also pictured other former Cape League alumni: reigning National League Cy Young winner and San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum, 2008 AL Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee shortstop Ryan Braun and Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters.

During a pregame ceremony, former Boston utility infielder Lou Merloni and former Mets pitcher Ron Darling, who helped New York win the 1986 World Series over the Red Sox, threw out ceremonial first pitches.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein took advantage of the scouting opportunity, watching the game from his private box behind home plate.

The Cape All-Star game was played in Fenway for 13 years from 1975-87.

Cox's RBI triple off the base of the center-field wall gave the West a 1-0 lead. He later scored when Cody Stanley, from UNC Wilmington, bounced into a fielder's choice.

Cox's RBI single made it 3-0 in the second.

West starter Brandon Workman, of Texas, who was wearing a red No. 21 on his white jersey -- the same number Texas alum Roger Clemens wore with the Red Sox for 13 years -- fanned the first two batters he faced and pitched two scoreless innings on the way to the win.

UCLA right-hander and East starter Rob Rasmussen gave up three runs in two innings for the loss.

The rain became heavy in the third inning and the tarp was put on the field in the fifth.

During the delay, players lined the front row, signing autographs for those few fans that remained.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)