San Francisco Giants Melky Cabrera (L) is welcomed at homeplate by St. Louis Cardinals Matt Holliday after hitting a two run home run in the fourth inning against the American League in the All Star game. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
There were plenty of highlights for the Cardinals in the 83rd All-Star game in Kansas City and Billy Butler came up to bat twice for the home crowd, but it was members of the San Francisco Giants that helped sparked the National League to an 8-0 win over the American League at Kauffman Stadium.
Detroit’s Justin Verlander was tagged for five runs in the first inning. After giving up walks to Carlos Beltran and Buster Posey to load the bases and trailing 1-0, Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval cleared the bases off the Tigers’ ace with a triple into the right field corner. He then scored on an infield single.
AUDIO Carlos Beltran’s post game comments
The only other scoring came in the fourth inning. Rafael Furcal tripled to right (one of three in the game for the NL) and came around to score on Matt Holliday’s single, who just entered as the DH. Holliday then scored when All-Star MVP Melky Cabrera hit a two-run homer off Matt Harrison of the Rangers. Holliday said he couldn’t remember ever being placed in the leadoff spot.
AUDIO Matt Holliday’s interview after the game.
St. Louis Cardinals Rafael Furcal rounds second base as he heads to third with a triple in the fourth inning. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
David Freese entered the game playing first base. Leave it to former Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa to keep players on their toes. However, after the game, Freese said that LaRussa gave him a head’s up he might be playing at first, with three other third basemen on the roster, including Chipper Jones, playing in his final All-Star game.
AUDIO David Freese on his first All-Star experience
Royals fans waited patiently for Billy Butler to make an appearance. Butler came on in the seventh inning against Cole Hamels and after falling behind 0-2 in the count, Butler grounded to third. Butler had one more shot in the ninth, and struck out facing Joel Hanrahan. Butler was overwhelmed by the support he received all week, including the standing ovations during his at-bats.
AUDIO Billy Butler on the KC crowd.
Giants starter Matt Cain pitched the first two innings, allowing one of just six hits produced by the American League. Cardinals starter Lance Lynn did not get in the game.