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The National League emerged victorious at the 83rd Major League All-Star Game, trouncing the American League 8-0 at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium, and capturing home field advantage for the 2012 World Series.
The Senior Circuit stormed out of the gate with a five-run first-inning off losing pitcher Justin Verlander, who threw 35 pitches in his only inning of work. The big blow was a bases-clearing triple by Pablo Sandoval, which followed consecutive walks to Carlos Beltran and Buster Posey. Dan Swedish-for-Owl singled home the Panda to cap the inning. The scoring began with Ryan Braun doubling home Melky Cabrera, who had singled.
Staked to an eight-run lead, Clayton Kershaw pitched a scoreless fifth inning, escaping a bases-loaded jam created by a clean single, a fly ball that was completely lost by a hapless left-fielder Bryce Harper, and a walk. But the Dodger portsider, on his 27th pitch, induced a full-count fly ball to left off the bat of Ian Kinsler that Harper could handle for the third out.
The victorious loop added three runs in the fourth inning, when Matt Harrison allowed two triples, a home run by Cabrera, and a single in his one-inning appearance.
Giants teammates Sandoval and Cabrera combined to go 3 for 5, with 3 runs scored and 5 RBI.
Matt Kemp wore a microphone in the dugout for part of the television broadcast, in one of the only ways he could participate in the festivities given that he was not on the active players roster for the game.
Eleven National League pitchers combined to throw a six-hit shutout, the first shutout since 1996, when the Dodgers Mike Piazza was named the MVP.