One night after the American League's Yoenis Cespedes hit everything in sight during the Home Run Derby, its pitchers almost did allow the National League All-Stars any hits.
Ten pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout, and doubles by Miguel Cabrera, Adam Jones and Jason Kipnis resulted in runs as the American League defeated the National League 3-0 in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on Tuesday night at Citi Field in New York.
The victory give the American League representative home-field advantage in the World Series and snaps a three-game losing streak in the midsummer classic.
The National League, which won last year's game 8-0, generated no offense against the American League pitchers. Chris Sale pitched two innings to lead the AL, while the New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, making his 13th appearance in an All-Star game, pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
"It was tough. It was special," Rivera said after the game. "Seeing the fans sharing and both teams standing out of the dugout, managers, coaches players, priceless."
The teams appeared poised for a pitchers' duel after National League starter Matt Harvey of the New York Mets escaped a two-on, no-out situation in the first inning. After the Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout doubled on the first pitch of the game, Harvey hit crosstown rival Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees with a pitch. Cano had to leave the game, but X-rays were negative.
The Detroit Tigers' Cabrera opened the fourth inning with a double off losing pitcher Patrick Corbin of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Baltimore Orioles' Chris Davis singled Cabrera to third, and a sacrifice fly by the Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista scored Cabrera for a 1-0 AL lead. The run snapped a 17-inning scoreless streak by the American League, dating back to the 2011 All-Star Game.
The Orioles' Jones led off the fifth with a double, advanced to third on a single by the Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer and scored on J.J. Hardy's fielder's choice to make it 2-0.
The AL got an insurance run in the eighth when Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals singled, advanced to third on another single and a double-play ball and came home on a double by the Indians' Kipnis.
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