NEW YORK: The American League ended a string of three All-Star game defeats by beating the National League 3-0 yesterday to earn home-field advantage for the 2013 World Series.
After losing the last three Midsummer Classics by an aggregate of 16-2, Miguel Cabrera and Adam Jones ripped lead-off doubles that led to runs in the fourth and fifth innings and Jason Kipnis doubled home another in the eighth.
Evergreen reliever Mariano Rivera was named the All-Star game MVP with Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox earning the win as 10 AL pitchers combined on a three-hitter.
Patrick Corbin of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the third of eight National League pitchers, took the loss.
An emotional highlight came late in the game when Yankees closer Rivera came in from the bullpen to pitch the bottom of the eighth.
The 43-year-old, Major League Baseball’s all-time saves leader who is retiring at the end of the season, was met with a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd at Citi Field.
With his AL team mates staying by the dugout to give Rivera a solitary moment, the closer doffed his cap in each direction to acknowledge the cheering fans before ending his 13th All-Star appearance by turning in a familiar one-two-three inning.
The American League snapped a 17-inning All-Star scoreless streak when Cabrera came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Jose Bautista off Patrick Corbin in the fourth.
The previous tally for the AL All-Stars had come in the fourth inning of the 2011 game in Arizona, which the National League won 5-1 before registering an 8-0 drubbing last year. REUTERS
