Robinson Cano Becomes 3rd Mariners Player to Win All-Star MVP

Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano didn't take the field during Tuesday's All-Star Game until the seventh inning after pinch-hitting for the Baltimore Orioles' Jonathan Schoop. His first at-bat of the contest resulted in a strikeout swinging.

Cano didn't receive another at-bat until the game went into extra innings, but he took full advantage of his second opportunity by taking Chicago Cubs reliever Wade Davis deep for what proved to be the game-winning tally. The drive over the right-field fence also earned Cano the third All-Star MVP award in Mariners history, per Sportsnet Stats. Ken Griffey Jr. in 1992 and Ichiro Suzuki in 2007 were the only two previous Mariners to earn the title.

While Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve bested Cano in the fan voting for the 2017 All-Star Game, he was later added as a reserve. It marked the eighth All-Star nomination for the 34-year-old—who finished the first half with a .275 batting average, 17 home runs and 60 RBI.

Despite another solid output from the veteran, Seattle possesses just a 43-47 record and sits 17.5 games back of the AL West-leading Houston Astros. With the trade deadline approaching, it seems more likely than not the club will be among the sellers rather than the buyers this season.

Cano and the Mariners open the second half Friday with a three-game road series against the Chicago White Sox.