National League Routs American League in All-Star Game

The San Francisco Giants' Melky Cabrera hit a two-run home run while being named the 2012 All-Star Game MVP. (Jonathan Daniel)

One of the biggest complaints coming into this year's All-Star Game was that fans of teams, such as the San Francisco Giants, stuffed the ballot box to get their favorite players in. It turns out that the Giants fans might have known what they were doing.

Giants workhorse Matt Cain was chosen as the starting pitcher for the National League. Some people didn't think he deserved it, but I think he was clearly among the best options. I mean after all, he did throw a perfect game this season. Tonight, Cain had his stuff working. He pitched two efficient innings while giving up just one hit and no runs.

His counterpart, Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander, did not fare nearly as well. Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera got the National League offense going in the first inning with a single. Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun doubled home Cabrera to get the scoring started. St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran and Giants catcher Buster Posey both walked to load the bases with two outs. Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval came up to bat. He got all of a pitch from Verlander. It ended up against the wall, and Sandoval hustled to turn it into a bases-clearing triple. The next batter, Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, reached on a hard hit infield single to score a run. Verlander finally managed to end the inning, but not until the damage was done, with the American League leading 5-0.

In the fourth inning, the National League offense got it going again. With two outs in the inning, Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal tripled to right field. His teammate Matt Holliday came up next as a pinch hitter. He singled home Furcal to increase the lead to 6-0. The next batter was Melky Cabrera. He made full contact on a pitch from Texas Rangers pitcher Matt Harrison. It went out for a two-run home run to give the National League an 8-0 lead.

Meanwhile, the American League's offense had been hailed as one of the best lineups ever going into the game. However, they struggled to get anything going tonight. Their biggest threat came in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with two outs. Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler came in to pinch hit. Kinsler worked the count full before harmlessly flying out to left field. The American League only managed two hits the rest of the way as they were shutout 8-0.

Despite the American League being the favorite coming into the game, it was the National League that dominated from start to finish. In a game that featured some of the Giants' stars, it was Melky Cabrera who was chosen as the game's Most Valuable Player. His two-run home run, two RBIs, and two runs left him a very worthy candidate. Another worthy candidate would be the National League pitching staff as a whole. They bulldozed through a talented American League lineup and bench to allow only six hits in the shutout. It will be interesting to see if the National League champion can use the home field advantage they have earned to their advantage in the World Series.