07/14: Rivera Shuts Down National League in All-Star Game
Posted by: Seamus
In a game that was about half as long as last year's All-Star contest at Yankee Stadium, the American League defeated the National League to extend its All-Star unbeaten streak to 13 games, this time with a tight 4–3 victory.
The two Yankee starters in the game, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira, went a combined 0–5, although Jeter did score two runs (hit by a pitch in the 1st, reached on fielder's choice in the 5th). Mariano shut the door with a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 4th All-Star Game save, breaking a tie with Dennis Eckersley for the most all-time.
Rays outfielder Carl Crawford was named the game's MVP. Crawford was 1-3 in the game and did not score or drive in a run, but he kept the game tied in the bottom of the 7th when he reached just above the wall to snare a fly ball hit by Rockies outfielder Brad Hawpe, robbing him of a go-ahead solo home run.
This will be the 8th consecutive season in which the American League's representative in the World Series will have home field advantage. The A.L. has won all seven games since "it counted" beginning in 2003, and also had home field in 2002, the last year in which the leagues would alternate who had home field each year.
The two Yankee starters in the game, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira, went a combined 0–5, although Jeter did score two runs (hit by a pitch in the 1st, reached on fielder's choice in the 5th). Mariano shut the door with a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 4th All-Star Game save, breaking a tie with Dennis Eckersley for the most all-time.
Rays outfielder Carl Crawford was named the game's MVP. Crawford was 1-3 in the game and did not score or drive in a run, but he kept the game tied in the bottom of the 7th when he reached just above the wall to snare a fly ball hit by Rockies outfielder Brad Hawpe, robbing him of a go-ahead solo home run.
This will be the 8th consecutive season in which the American League's representative in the World Series will have home field advantage. The A.L. has won all seven games since "it counted" beginning in 2003, and also had home field in 2002, the last year in which the leagues would alternate who had home field each year.
