The longest All-Star Game winning streak is still held by the National League, which won every All-Star Game from 1972 through 1982, and stands at eleven games. Tonight, the American League, which has dominated interleague play this season, came two games closer to tying that record.
PITTSBURGH — No matter who’s on the mound, the National League can’t find a way to close out an All-Star game.
With the AL down to its final strike, Michael Young hit a two-run triple off Trevor Hoffman for a 3-2 victory Tuesday night that kept the Americans unbeaten for the past decade.
Behind David Wright’s homer and some daring, old-style baserunning, the NL took a 2-1 lead into the ninth and brought in Hoffman to try to finish it.
But the San Diego Padres’ reliever, closing in on the career saves record, failed to put this one away. He gave up a two-out single to Paul Konerko, who was replaced by pinch-runner Jose Lopez.
Then the NL nearly caught a break — it hasn’t had many since its last victory in Philadelphia in 1996.
Troy Glaus’ smash bounded over the left-field fence for a ground-rule double, perhaps preventing Lopez from scoring. He was held at third, but Young made that moot.
The Rangers’ underrated shortstop lined an 0-2 pitch into right-center and slid into third with what was probably the biggest All-Star game hit since Texas teammate Hank Blalock’s go-ahead homer off Eric Gagne in the eighth inning in 2003.
Young earned the MVP award — and the AL again earned home-field advantage in the World Series.
Go-ahead runs in the 9th inning and then Mariano Rivera comes in to close out the game. That’s how an All-Star game should end.
Yea, I know its only the All-Star Game. But, heck, I’m a baseball geek.
