The American League continued its dominance over the National League in a 3-2 win in the All-Star Game, Tuesday. Michael Young of the Rangers won the game’s MVP award. It was his two-out, two-run triple in the ninth that put the AL on top. Mariano Rivera slammed the door in the ninth to get the save.
The Angels, Vladimir Guerrero, homered in the second inning off NL starter Brad Penny to give the AL a 1-0 lead. The Mets have the best record in the NL and third baseman David Wright is a big part of that. It was his homer in his first all-star at bat that tied the game in the bottom of the second. Wright was on a home run rampage during the break, he also finished second in the Home Run Derby.
Another Met, Carlos Beltran, put together a exciting sequence in the third. After singling to center and advancing to second on a put out at the plate by Vernon Wells, Beltran stole third easily, and scored on a wild pitch putting the NL ahead 2-1.
It was a pitcher’s duel the rest of the way, and with two outs in the top of the ninth it looked like the NL would finally break its nine-year winless streak. Trevor Hoffman retired Jermaine Dye and Miguel Tejada on five pitches to get the first two outs. Paul Konerko singled to left on a grounder that would’ve been an out if third baseman Miguel Cabrera wasn’t guarding the line. Troy Glaus hit a ground-rule double that bounced over the wall in left, putting runners on second and third. That’s when Young did his damage, lining an 0-2 pitch throught the gap in left-center.
B.J. Ryan pitched a perfect eighth to earn the win.
Only half of the Cardinals four players actually played in the game. Albert Pujols started at first base but went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. David Eckstein came off the bench and struck out in his only at bat. Chris Carpenter and Scott Rolen didn’t play.
Mark Redman represented the Royals, but was tabbed an “emergency” option by AL manager Ozzie Guillen.