UPDATED: Brian McCann's bases-loaded double in the seventh inning helps the National League win for the first time since 1996.
View full sizeAs both teams struggled to find some offense in the early innings of Tuesday night's All-Star Game, Milwaukee's Ryan Braun robbed Texas' Josh Hamilton of a hit with this diving catch in left field in the fourth inning at Anaheim, Calif.Updated at 1:09 a.m.
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Manager Charlie Manuel made it clear from the start: The No. 1 priority of the National League at the 81st All-Star Game was to win the game.
It was something they hadn't done since 1996 as the American League put together a 12-0-1 run over the previous 13 years. Manuel, managing his second straight All-Star Game after taking the Phillies to two straight World Series, was able to drive his message home. Maybe agent Scott Boras was right when he called Manuel "a baseball genius."
Atlanta catcher Brian McCann, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning, hit a three-run double off the Chicago White Sox's Matt Thornton with two out in the seventh for a 3-1 victory at Angels Stadium. The victory gave the NL home-field advantage in the World Series for the first time since 2003.
"All good things must come to an end," Manuel said of ending the AL's winning streak. "Tonight was our night."
Phil Hughes, one of eight Yankees to make the AL team, started the seventh and took the loss. Cincinnati's Scott Rolen and Matt Holliday hit consecutive one-out singles to put runners on first and third. Rolen caught the AL napping as he hustled into third.
View full sizeThe National League's Brian McCann, of the Atlanta Braves, delivers a three-run double in the seventh inning during Tuesday's All-Star Game in Anaheim, Calif. "That set up our scoring," Manuel said. "Rolen is a tremendous base runner. You don't hear much about him anymore, but he's a solid player."
Thornton relieved and popped up Chris Young, but he loaded the bases by walking crosstown rival Marlon Byrd of the Cubs to bring McCann to the plate.
"I told our coaches I hope Thornton keeps throwing him low and hard," Manuel said. "If he does, he'll light him up."
McCann, playing in his fifth All-Star Game, lined a clean double to right.
"This is what you dream about," McCann said. "He's got one of the best left-handed fastballs in the game. I got my hands started early and got a pitch I could handle."
Washington's Matt Caps, who recorded one out in the sixth, was the winner. Dodgers right-hander Jonathan Broxton worked the ninth for the save. He was assisted by a strong throw from Byrd in right field to force David Ortiz at second on a one-hop liner by John Buck for the second out.
The AL took a 1-0 lead in the fifth. It was the 10th time in the past 14 games that they've scored first.
Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria walked against Hong-Chih Kuo of the Dodgers. Twins catcher Joe Mauer sent a bouncer back to the mound that Kuo fielded and threw 20 feet over Albert Pujols' head at first base.
If Longoria had eyes in the back of his head, or had been looking at the third base coach Sam Perlozzo, he might have scored. As it was, he advanced to third and Mauer to second on the error. Robinson Cano of the Yankees hit a sacrifice fly to left for a 1-0 lead.
The AL could have made it a bigger inning, but third base umpire Laz Diaz missed a call. Carl Crawford sent a grounder to short with Mauer moving on the pitch. Florida's Hanley Ramirez grabbed the ball and threw to Rolen. Mauer clearly beat Rolen's tag, but Diaz called him out.
Torii Hunter, the home-crowd favorite, ended the inning with a fly ball to the track near the right-field foul pole.
Detroit's Justin Verlander had to do some fancy pitching to get out of the fifth. David Wright of the Mets opened with a single to center. He stole second, but Verlander struck out Milwaukee's Ryan Braun.
Andre Either followed with a single to right. The ball was hit so hard that Wright had to stop at third. Verlander, in a tight spot, struck out Corey Hart and retired McCann on a fly ball to the track in right.
Derek Jeter tried to start another rally for the AL with a bloop single to leadoff the sixth against Roy Halladay. Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus pinch ran, but on an attempted steal of second, he overslid the bag and was tagged out by Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips.
Toronto's John Buck hit a one-out double in the seventh. St. Louis right-hander Adam Wainright walked Ian Kinsler, but Vernon Wells hit into a force play and Hunter, despite the urgings of the Rally Monkey, struck out.
Ortiz started the ninth with a single. Broxton struck out Adrian Beltre before Buck hit into his fielder's choice and Ian Kinsler flied out to end it. Girardi had Alex Rodriguez available to pinch hit to try and tie the game up, but didn't use him.
"I was looking for him," Manuel said.
David Price and Ubaldo Jimenez, with 27 wins between them, were the starting pitchers. They each pitched two scoreless innings.
Indians All-Star pitcher Fausto Carmona did not play on Tuesday.
To reach this Plain Dealer Reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158
