Jones sac fly helps AL to All-Star win
ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - Adam Jones's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning drove in the winning run to help the American League beat the National League 4-3 in Major League Baseball's All-Star Game on Tuesday.
The victory was the American League team's 12th in the past 13 years, making it the longest All-Star unbeaten streak.
The 2002 game ended tied at 7-7 after 11 innings and with both sides out of players.
President Barack Obama threw out the ceremonial first pitch and visited both teams before the game.
Curtis Granderson of the Detroit Tigers tripled in the eighth and then scored on Jones's sacrifice fly to for the winning run, ensuring that the AL champions get home field advantage in the World Series later this year.
"As soon as I hit the ball I knew I had to get to third anyway possible," Granderson told reporters. "It turned out to be a really important run so I'm glad I made it."
Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford was selected the game's MVP thanks to a game-saving catch in the seventh inning. Crawford, who also went 1-for-3 at the plate, leaped over the left field wall to rob Brad Hawpe of what would have been a tie-breaking homer.
"That's part of my game, playing defense," Crawford said. "You just want to contribute any way that you can.
"It was definitely probably the best catch I ever made. In a game that close, one play can make all the difference."
Reliever Heath Bell of San Diego allowed the winning run and took the loss, while Boston reliever Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect seventh inning for the victory.
The AL's pitching staff held the NL to just five hits, retiring 18 consecutive batters between the second and eighth innings.
New York's Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth for his record-breaking fourth All-Star Game save. Rivera has not allowed an earned run in eight innings in All-Star competition.
"It's great, it means something," Rivera said. "Whoever wins here gets a shot to start at home in the World Series."
(Writing by Roger Lajoie in St. Louis; Editing by Alastair Himmer)
