AL Wins All-Star Game, 3-0, Earns World Series Home Field Advantage; White Sox Hurler Chris Sale Dominates

Players of the Day for Tuesday, July 16, 2013

ALL STAR GAME

Sale: 2IP, 0H, 2K

As baseball games go, this one didn't provide many thrills for fans, but, in a season in which hitting has been the dominant theme, it was pitching - particularly by American League hurlers - which carried the day, the AL limiting NL batters to just three hits while scoring single runs in the fourth, fifth and eighth innings for the 3-0 win at Citi Field in New York.

Statistically, there were no outstanding performances, but give a nod to the AL lefty, Chris Sale, of the Chicago White Sox, who was completely untouchable in his two innings of work, striking out two while throwing 17 of 24 pitches for strikes without allowing a hit or a walk.

The Mets' Matt Harvey deserves a mention as well. After a rough start - giving up a leadoff double to Mike Trout on the first pitch of the game and then plunking Robinson Cano on the knee to put runners at first and second with no outs, Harvey regrouped and put down the next six batters in order, three of them on swinging strikes.

With the Mid-Summer Classic complete, fans can look forward to the AL team having home field for the World Series in October, having earned it with the All-Star victory.

Regular season play resumes on Friday.

Today's Trivia: Which infielder was named to the most All Star rosters? (answer Friday)

Yesterday's Answer: Reggie Jackson and Johnny Bench each were named to All Star rosters 14 times.