In a game full of streaks and legends, the American League said goodbye to both on Tuesday night. A 3-0 victory will show up in the box score because American League pitching was dominant, allowing just three hits all night to the entire National League.
One of 10 pitchers, Yankees’ closer, Mariano Rivera, had the eighth inning all to himself and delivered a predictable 1-2-3 inning to hand the lead over to Joe Nathan in the ninth and win MVP honors in what will be his last All-Star game.
Rivera was honored and respected all night, announcing his retirement before the season started, and Manager Jim Leyland, perhaps controversially, made sure Rivera was guaranteed to pitch by tabbing him for the eighth inning.
Before the NL had won three years in a row, the AL had been 12-0-1 in the previous 13 matchups dating back to 1997, the year the AL snapped a three game NL streak. In fact, not since 1987 had either league won without winning in a surrounding season.
The game itself was well represented with the AL threatening early in the home of the New York Mets, lead by a Mike Trout double to begin the game off of Mets’ starter Matt Harvey. Harvey got into further trouble when he hit cross-town rival, Robinson Cano in the knee.
Cano would leave the game that same inning with quad pain but early indication is he will be ready to go when games resume on Friday. Harvey escaped the inning and would pitch a scoreless second before handing the reigns to Clayton Kershaw.
The scoreless tie was broken in the fourth inning when Patrick Corbin, the All Star Game loser, surrendered a run on a Jose Bautista sacrifice fly, which drove in Miguel Cabrera, who had hit the second leadoff double of the game. The AL would add to its lead in the top of the fifth when Adam Jones lead off with yet another double before scoring on a J.J. Hardy ground out.
With the way the pitching had been performing, a two run lead seemed to be plenty, but a two-out Jason Kipnis ground-rule double insured a 3-0 advantage shortly before the game’s biggest ovation was set for Rivera’s signature entrance to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”.
And enter he did when Rivera set down: Jean Segura, Allen Craig and former Mets’ prospect, Carlos Gomez, in order. With the win, the AL has earned home field advantage in the World Series, somewhere Rivera hopes will be his final stop during his historic final season.
