KANSAS CITY — The lineup was more dominant on paper. The pitching was more dominant on paper. And they had the crowd to their back.
Unfortunately for the American League, the National League stole the show in KC. Backed by a bases-clearing triple in the 1st by Pablo Sandoval, the NL squashed AL starting pitcher Justin Verlander en route to an 8-0 shutout win in KC, guaranteeing homefield advantage for the NL team in the World Series.
Sandoval crushed a 1-1 offering from Verlander with the bases loaded, giving the NL a 4-0 lead and blowing the game wide open only two outs in.
The Phillies featured three participants in the Midsummer Classic.
Carlos Ruiz caught for R.A. Dickey in the 6th, Cole Hamels in the 7th, Craig Kimbrel in the 8th and Jonathan Papelbon in the 9th. He had one plate appearance, flying out.
Hamels pitched a perfect 7th inning and Papelbon pitched the final out in the 9th inning, hugging Ruiz as the NL celebrated it’s third straight win of the All-Star Game.
TTB 