Home Field to the Junior Circut. AL Beats NL

The losing streak for the American League at the midsummer classic had been three years. The last win was in 2009, at the time it was a seven game win streak for the AL. This year, with the game being played in Queens, the National League found no offense, only mustering three hist as the AL won home field advantage in the playoffs with a 3-0 win. This game had a little bit of everything, good pitching good hitting and even a fan running onto the field. Things didn't start that great for the AL though as Robinson Cano hobbled off early after getting hit by a pitch from crosstown rival Matt Harvey of the host Mets. X-rays were negative, and Cano said he shouldn't miss any games for the Yankees. Thankfully Cano will still be able to play and won't miss any time.

The NL didn't manage a baserunner until Carlos Beltran's one-out single in the fourth, and managed just three hits total on the night, one of the lowest outputs in the history of the midsummer classic. Miguel Cabrera had himself a pretty good night at the plate. Cabrera's best swing came against loser Patrick Corbin and produced a leadoff double in the fourth. Jose Bautista's sacrifice fly knocked in Cabrera, and it snapped a 17-inning scoreless streak for the AL that dated to Adrian Gonzalez's homer off Cliff Lee two years ago in Arizona. Baltimore's Adam Jones, wearing bright orange high-tops, doubled against Lee to start the fifth and scored while J.J. Hardy beat out a potential double play. Jason Kipnis doubled home a run in the eighth off Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel. That would be all the run support that American League pitching would need in this game.

When Mariano Rivera came out to pitch the bottom of the 8th, he walked to the mound, as he always has when playing in New York, to Enter Sandman by Metallica. It was fitting for the greatest closer in the history of baseball, who was the only player on the field at that moment and greeted to a standing ovation that lasted about a minute and a half. Mo pitched a perfect 8th and Twins closer Joe Nathan shut the door in the ninth to seal the victory. Nathan gave Rivera the game ball, and a representative from the Hall of Fame took Rivera's cap to display in Cooperstown.

It came as no surprise that Mariano Rivera was named the MVP of the all star game. With the MVP nod, it marks the 7th time in the history of the all star game that a pitcher has won MVP. The other pitchers to win MVP are: Pedro Martinez of the Red Sox (1999), Roger Clemens of the Red Sox (1986),  LaMarr Hoyt of the Padres (1985), Don Sutton of the Dodgers (1977) Jon Matlack of the Mets (1975 co-MVP with Bill Madlock) and Juan Marichal of the Giants (1965).

So now with the all star game in the books, it means that the American League will once again get home field advantage in the World Series. Now teams can get back together and get set for the 2nd half of the season and a push for the playoffs. If the first half of this year has been any indication, this could be a very exciting race to October!