Don't Ya Know AL Wins Again!

Five straight years. That's how many times the American League has now won the All Star Game. This one, it took a little bit longer then the teams wanted, but the American League came away with the victory once again. It's the 11th time overall and the first time since 2008 we've had to go past nine innings in the midsummer classic. Most of the talk going into the game had been about a current Yankees star, but it was a former Yankees star that proved to be the hero late in the game.

Before we get into the late innings, here's a few stats about last night's game that made it so interesting. Both starting pitchers, Max Scherzer and Chris Sale, were throwing hard early on, keeping opposing hitters at bay. And the state of Ohio was on display quite well last night as well. Jose Ramirez rapped singles to right field in his first two at-bats, plus he stole a base. He's the first Indians player with multiple hits in the All-Star Game in more than two decades. Then you got Zach Kozart of the Reds, who went one for two in the ball game. That hit was the first one by a Reds player in seven years. Before last night, Reds players had gone 0 for 23 in the game. Then there was one of the cooler moments I've ever seen in a baseball, when Seattle DH Nelson Cruz took a picture with Home Plate Umpire Joe West behind the plate before an at bat. Just one of those moments that make you realize that there is something other then a game.

Now then, on to the scoring. The AL jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the fifth thanks to a Jonathan Schoop double down the line and a Miguel Sano bloop single just inside the right field foul line. The NL tied the game in the sixth inning on Molina's opposite field solo home run. He took Ervin Santana deep. At 34 years and 363 days, Molina is now the oldest catcher to go deep in the All-Star Game. And he actually looked cool in his catchers gear that made him look a little like C3PO from Star Wars. The National League had a chance to pull off a win with a walk off in the 9th. They got runners at 2nd and 3rd. But Mets Outfielder Michael Conforto struck out swinging to end the inning and send us to extras.

The firs thought to run through fans heads was that there might be a repeat of 2002 in Milwaukee. Robinson Cano changed that quickly. He took a 1-1 fastball and deposited the pitch from Wade Davis and dumped it into the bullpen to give the AL the lead. They wouldn't let it go. The American League held on for the 2-1 win in ten innings.

With the win, the American League has now won five straight All Star Games. Its the first time since the 1988 game that we've had a 2-1 score, and its the first time since we've had a game decided in extras since the National League won 8-7 in ten innings in 1994. With the win by the American League, it was their 43rd in the All Star Game, putting the records at 43-43-2 for both leagues. Robinson Cano was named MVP of the game, and for good reason. Hitting the game deciding home run, in extra innings, can help you do that. Cano is the 3rd Mariners player to win the MVP award, joining Ken Griffey Jr in 1992 and Ichiro in 2007. Cano is also the 4th ever 2nd baseman to win MVP, joining Joe Morgan in 1972, Julio Franco in 1990 and Roberto Alomar in 1998.

Next year's game will take place on July 10th from Nationals Park in Washington DC!