Yes they McCann by Jared Carrabis
McCann's 3-run double gives NL first win in 14 years


I guess this means the Red Sox will just have to win the World Series at home this year.

After fourteen long years, the National League finally defeated the American League Not since the NL boasted a lineup with names like Barry Larkin, Barry Bonds, Fred McGriff and Ozzie Smith has the American League been out-played in an All Star Game.

When you bring the best of the best to the table, certainly you’re going to see one hell of a game. After fourteen consecutive All Star Games without a victory, it only took one big hit to bring an end to the drought.

Trailing 1-0 in the seventh, after a Robinson Cano sacrifice fly represented the game’s lone run, the Atlanta Braves’ Brian McCann stepped in the box with the bases loaded to face the Chicago White Sox’ Matt Thornton.

Thornton, who leads all American League relievers with 49 strikeouts in 36.2 innings, pumped an 0-1 fastball at 98 MPH that McCann ripped down the right field line. When McCann cruised into second base with a double, all three runners had scored, giving the National League a 3-1 lead.

Two of the three runs were charged to first-time All Star Phil Hughes of the New York Yankees, who allowed a pair of singles before getting the hook by his skipper, Joe Girardi.

With Jon Lester hurling a scoreless top of the sixth, David Ortiz entered the game in the bottom half, striking out against Matt Capps to end the inning.

Ortiz wouldn’t get another at bat until the bottom of the ninth with the American League still trailing by two. On the mound for the National League was the Dodgers’ Jonathan Broxton. With Ortiz batting first in the inning and Adrian Beltre batting behind him, the two Red Sox All Stars had the chance to get to Broxton for a second time this season.

Wasting no time, Ortiz tattooed the first pitch of his at bat into right field for a base hit. Beltre, who injured his hamstring in the final game of the first half, looked simply overmatched against Broxton, striking out on three pitches.

John Buck of the Toronto Blue Jays then dumped a base hit into right field, but Ortiz had been caught up between first and second, not sure if the ball was going to be caught. When Ortiz began charging towards second base, it was too late. The Cubs’ Marlon Byrd gunned down Ortiz for the force out at second, as the Rangers’ Ian Kinsler flied out to right-center to end it.

In a situation where Ortiz should have been pinch-run for, he instead remained in the game, as Girardi had essentially depleted his 34-man roster by the ninth.



Final score: National League 3, American League 1
WP: Matt Capps (1-0)
LP: Phil Hughes (0-1)
SV: Jonathan Broxton (1)
HR: None.

Game notes: The win for the National League is their first since 1996. There hasn’t been a home run in the All Star Game since 2008. Phil Hughes is the first Yankee to be the losing pitcher in an All Star Game since Tommy John was the loser in the 1980 mid-summer classic.

Tweet of the Night: @jaysonst: Marlon Byrd made a great play & all. But isn't some of this on Joe Girardi? How can a mgr with a 34-man roster get to 9th w no pinch runner?

-Jared Carrabis

Who is to blame for the AL's loss?
	David Ortiz. He misjudged that ball in the ninth.
	Joe Girardi. He did a terrible job of managing.
	Phil Hughes. He got the loss!
	Matt Thornton. He allowed the 3-run double to Brian McCann.
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Published on July 14, 2010

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