We should have known from the start. The Boston Red Sox are destined to sweep the World Series, so how on Earth could the American League win?
Tonight's All-Star Game certainly wasn't a pretty one. In fact, I was left fairly bored for the duration of the contest. For the second consecutive year, the National League defeated the American League. This time around by the score of 5-1. The team that wins the NL pennant will have home field advantage in the 2011 World Series. This is only the second time since 1995 that the NL has defeated the AL.
The American League was clearly at a disadvantage tonight in the pitching department and that made all the difference. CC Sabathia, Felix Hernandez, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and Mariano Rivera were all unavailable for tonight's game. Onto the details.
Roy Halladay started the game for the NL and made mincemeat out of the AL lineup, retiring all six batters he faced needing only 19 pitches.
Jered Weaver only threw one inning for the AL, walking Matt Kemp and retiring the other three batters.
In a somewhat shocking move, New York's David Robertson came out for the second inning. He forced Brian McCann to fly out, allowed a single up the middle to former Yankee Lance Berkman, and then struck out Matt Holliday as Alex Avila threw out The Puma attempting to steal.
After Cliff Lee and Michael Pineda exchanged a pair of 1-2-3's in the third inning, the American League finally struck. Adrian Gonzalez, the Home Run Derby runner-up, took Lee over the right field fence to give the AL a 1-0 lead in the fourth. After a pair of singles by Jose Bautista and Josh Hamilton, Lee was removed for former Yankee Tyler Clippard. Are we seeing a pattern here? Clippard allowed a single to Adrian Beltre, but Bautista was gunned at the plate by Hunter Pence.
Ron Washington decided to go to his own ace, C.J. Wilson, and that was a terrible idea. Back to back singles by Carlos Beltran and Matt Kemp set the table for Prince Fielder to add fireworks of his own. Fielder took Wilson yard and gave the NL a 3-1 lead, one they would never surrender.
Angels closer Jordan Walden allowed another run in the bottom of the fifth on an Andre Ethier RBI single. Mariners closer Brandon League allowed an RBI double to Pablo Sandoval in the bottom of the seventh to cap off the scoring. Yes, the AL West was responsible for all five runs allowed.
Brian Wilson came on and cleaned up the mess that Joel Hanrahan got himself into through poor defense and shut the door.
The AL team had only two hits after the fourth inning, a line drive single by Kevin Youkilis and a ninth inning single by Matt Joyce.
Yankees starters Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano each went 0 for 2, grounding out to second base or first base each time.
Russell Martin was the only player on the AL roster that was not used. Ironically enough, a Yankees player was left on the bench last year as the final player as well, Alex Rodriguez.
Prince Fielder was awarded All-Star game MVP.
So, what does this all mean? The highlight of the game was Justin Timberlake praising Joe Buck for his terrific broadcasting skills and his "class". Either that or the incredible amount of throwing errors in the ninth inning by the NL.
Good thing Derek Jeter didn't bother coming out to Phoenix. He was better off resting up for the second half.