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The American League pitching staff gave the National League hitters quite a problem tonight. The NL had just three hits and a walk. The AL scored a run apiece in the 4th, 5th, and 7th innings. In his final All-Star Game, Mariano Rivera had an emotional entrance in the 8th inning. Jason Grilli worked around a lead-off triple by Prince Fielder in the 9th to keep the AL at three runs. Joe Nathan saved the game for the American League.
Patrick Corbin pitched the top of the 4th inning, following Mets starter Matt Harvey (two innings) and the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw. Corbin allowed a leadoff double to the wall in right-center to Miguel Cabrera. Chris Davis's line drive just over the head of Joey Votto trickled into right field, and there were runners on the corners with nobody out. Jose Bautista hit a sac fly to center to score Cabrera and give the American League a 1-0 lead. Corbin finished his inning by getting David Ortiz to ground into a double play. His line: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER. Unfortunately, due to the aforementioned lack of hitting by the NL, Corbin was the pitcher of record and took the loss.
After his outing, Corbin tweeted:
This experience in NYC has been amazing, being so close to home. Great to have my family here cheering us on. #ASG
Paul Goldschmidt came into the game in the 5th inning in replacement of Joey Votto. He was on the receiving end of a almost-double play from Troy Tulowitzki (as the second American League run scored easily) and on the end of a beautiful bare-handed double-play from Brandon Phillips to end the 5th. Goldy caught a Miguel Cabrera foul-out in the 6th, and received two more double-plays in the 7th and 8th innings.
Goldy finally got an at-bat in the bottom of the 7th inning against Kansas City Royals reliever Greg Holland. He made the mistake of grounding out to one of the best playmakers in the game, Manny Machado over at third base. Goldschmidt was out by half a step, and would likely have been safe had that been any other third baseman.
Goldschmidt had a two-out double against Joe Nathan in the bottom of the 9th inning to keep the game alive, but Pedro Alvarez popped out to Jason Kipnis.
Mariano Rivera was named the MVP.