The 83rd annual All-Star Game brought about quite an impressive array of the league's best starting pitchers and power hitters. Our Philadelphia Phillies sent out three of their top guys to Kansas City: Catcher Carlos Ruiz, starting pitcher Cole Hamels, and closer Jonathan Papelbon. All of these men took the field (or mound) tonight against an impressive collection of the American League's top talents.
It didn't take long at all for the National League boys to take the lead. In fact, it was members from the Giants who busted this game wide. But first, it was Ryan Braun of the Brewers who plated Melky Cabrera with a double to deep right against Justin Verlander of the Tigers. Next, Pablo Sandoval tripled to deep right to bring home three runs. Sandoval later scored on an infield single from Dan Uggla.
Joe Nathan and David Price tossed two scoreless innings each for the American League, while a combination of Matt Cain, Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg, Clayton Kershaw, R.A. Dickey, and Cole Hamels all tossed scoreless innings, Cain pitching for the first two.
It was an inning for Cardinals (and Royals) fans in the fourth. Former Royal Rafael Furcal scored on a single from Matt Holliday, adding a run to the board for the National League. Holliday later scored on a two-run bomb from Melky Cabrera. 8-0 National League.
In the top of the sixth inning, Chipper Jones made his first appearance of the night, but final appearance in his career at an All-Star Game. He was welcomed by a standing ovation by the Kansas City crowd, and singled to shallow right to continue the cheers.
Carlos Ruiz made his appearance in the sixth inning catching knuckle ball pitcher R.A. Dickey of the Mets. It was a one-hit inning for Dickey, which was followed up by a perfect inning from starter Cole Hamels. Nothing more beautiful than Ruiz catching Hamels in an All-Star Game. Carlos continued to catch until the end of the game.
The National Leaguers were cruising along against the American Leaguers and continued to with a beauty of an eighth inning from Craig Kimbrel of the Braves and Aroldis Chapman of the Reds.
Wade Miley of the Diamondbacks came in to close it out for the Nationals League, and got the first out before Joel Hanrahan of the first place Pirates came in. Joel recorded the next out before Tony LaRussa made his final pitching change of the evening: Jonathan Papelbon.
It was a wise decision as Papelbon recorded the final out, and the National League toppled over the American League 8-0. It was the third straight win for the National League, which gives them home field advantage once again in the World Series.
