American League wins marathon All-Star Game

By Larry Fine

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The American League squeezed out a 4-3 victory over the National League in the 15th innings of the longest-ever All-Star game on Tuesday and extended their 12-year unbeaten streak in the Midsummer Classic.

Michael Young lofted a one-out sacrifice fly to right field and Justin Morneau just beat the throw home by Corey Hart to end the four-hour, 50-minute marathon at Yankee Stadium, which seemed reluctant to say goodbye to baseball's best.

The New York Yankees are moving from the 'House that Ruth Built', which opened in 1923, to a new stadium across the street next season and Tuesday's game was the last All-Star contest at the ground.

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir, the last available player on the American League roster, took the win after he pitched one scoreless inning.

The Philadelphia Phillies' Brad Lidge was credited with the loss as the National League failed to register their first All-Star Game victory since 1996.

"You don't like to lose," National League manager Clint Hurdle told reporters. "But I'm proud of the way our team played."

Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew, who belted a two-run homer in the seventh inning in his first All-Star at-bat to tie the game 2-2, was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

The victory in the 79th All-Star Game gives the American League representative home field advantage in the best-of-seven World Series.

"Definitely the home-field advantage adds a lot more," said Drew. "I've never been a part of an All-Star Game...and didn't know how much guys went out there and actually cared about it."

The teams used a combined 23 pitchers with both sides squandering opportunities to win in extra innings.

The American League stranded 17 baserunners, squandering a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the 10th.

The National League left 11 men on base and wasted a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity in the 12th.

Opportunity was not wasted in the 15th.

Twins first baseman Morneau led off with a single. One out later Tampa catcher Dioner Navarro singled and Drew followed by drawing a walk to load the bases.

Rangers shortstop Young then lofted a fly ball to medium right setting up a play at the plate.