Paul Goldschmidt Achieved A Rare Cardinals Feat In Los Angeles

Paul Goldschmidt certainly earned the opportunity to start at first base for the National League All-Star team in last night’s All-Star Game.

He has been red-hot since May and has led the St. Louis Cardinals in their pursuit of their 12th World Series title.

They’ll begin the second half just a half-game behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

But back to the All-Star Game.

In the bottom of the first, Goldschmidt showed just why he earned the starting nod, hitting a home run off of Shane McClanahan.

In fact, Goldschmidt’s home run put him in some unique Cardinals company, as he became the first Cardinal to homer in the All-Star Game since Yadier Molina did it in 2017, as mentioned in the tweet below.

Paul Goldschmidt is the first player to hit a 1st-inning home run in the All-Star Game since Kris Bryant in 2016.

Goldschmidt joins Yadier Molina as the only Cardinals players to homer in the ASG over the last 40 years. pic.twitter.com/K8NubTExmu

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 20, 2022

Goldy Matches Yadi

While Goldschmidt found himself in some rare Cardinals company last night, he also became the first player to hit a home run in the first inning of the All-Star Game since Kris Bryant did it back in 2016.

Needless to say, Goldschmidt had a night to remember in his first All-Star Game as a member of the Cardinals.

He was one of five Cardinals All-Stars, joining Nolan Arenado, Albert Pujols, Ryan Helsley, and Miles Mikolas.

And he did not miss that pitch from McClanahan, crushing a 96-mph fastball out to left-center to add a little insurance for the NL All-Stars.

Unfortunately, that was all they would be able to muster, as the American League stormed back in the top of the fourth and took the lead on back-to-back jacks by Giancarlo Stanton and Byron Buxton.

But Goldschmidt still had a night to remember and was one of the key factors in the game.