MLB All-Star Game 2013: Clayton Kershaw pitches perfect inning in 3-0 NL loss

Clayton Kershaw pitched a scoreless inning for the National League on Tuesday night, but the American League prevailed in the 84th MLB All-Star Game with a 3-0 victory at Citi Field in New York.

The NL leads the overall series 43-39-2.

Kershaw, who pitched a scoreless fifth inning in both the 2011 and 2012 All-Star Games, entered the game in the third inning on Tuesday night following two scoreless frames by Mets starter Matt Harvey.

Kershaw threw five pitches to Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy, who flew out to left center field. He then fell behind Angels outfielder Mike Trout 2-0 before inducing a fly out to right field. Kershaw needed six pitches to retire Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who flew out to right field to end the inning.

It took 14 pitches, including nine strikes, to pitch his scoreless inning, his third consecutive scoreless All-Star appearance. The only other Dodgers pitcher with a scoreless All-Star appearance in three straight years was Fernando Valenzuela, who threw six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts from 1984-1986.

Kershaw's chance at a win ended when the National League was retired in order in the third inning. The NL didn't have a runner reach base until Carlos Beltran singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning. Perhaps it was only a coincidence, but the NL didn't produce a baserunner until an inning that began with a recorded narration from Vin Scully.

Clips from the 1950s Yankees, Dodgers and Giants were shown as Scully said, "Whether you rooted for Willie, Mickey or The Duke, nowhere was baseball better than in New York. Ten times in a 12-year span, she wore the World Series crown. It was the golden age of baseball, all just a subway ride away."

The last Dodgers pitcher to get a win in an All-Star Game was Jerry Reuss in 1980, the last time the Dodgers hosted the midsummer classic.

Mariano Rivera, 43 years old and in his final season, was named to his 13th All-Star team in 2013. He pitched the eighth inning in his ninth and final All-Star appearance, and received a standing ovation in a cool moment as his American League teammates waited to take the field, allowing Rivera an extended ovation and farewell to fans on the national stage. Rivera, in the first time he ever entered an an All-Star Game before the ninth inning, retired the side in order.

Rivera was named the game's MVP.

Up next

Two days of no baseball before the Dodgers resume play with a weekend series in Washington D.C. against the Nationals. Ricky Nolasco starts Friday for the Dodgers, against Stephen Strasburg for the Nats. Kershaw will pitch Sunday in the series finale, in in the last two seasons in 29 post-All-Star-break starts is 20-5 with a 1.71 ERA in 209⅔ innings, with 50 walks and 211 strikeouts.

All-Star Game particulars

Home runs: none

WP - Chris Sale (1-0): 2 IP, 2 strikeouts

LP - Patrick Corbin (0-1): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run

Sv - Joe Nathan (1): 1 IP, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts