The National League rolled to their third straight victory in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, defeating the American League 8-0 in Kansas City. The NL hammered Justin Verlander in the top of the first inning, putting a five spot on the board and never looked back. The reigning AL Cy Young and MVP was also wild, issuing back-to-back walks to Carlos Beltran and Buster Posey to load the bases. Pablo Sandoval would step into the box and take advantage by hitting a triple off the wall in right to clear the bases and put the Senior Circuit up 4-0.
Sandoval's teammate Melky Cabrera would make it a full-on rout in the top of the fourth when he ripped a two-run homer into the bullpen in left field. It was a banner night for the Giants' All-Stars. The NL pitchers then put it in cruise control and shut out the heralded AL lineup, which mounted few threats that would force Tony La Russa to alter his plans.
As for Andrew McCutchen, the Bucs' representative had a good night in centerfield and at the plate. McCutchen ripped a Chris Sale offering to left field for a single in his first at-bat. It was down the line and was a possible double but McCutchen had Chipper Jones in front of him and the veteran settled at second. In his second at-bat, he grounded out to third when he chopped a Fernando Rodney pitch into the ground.
The Pirates' second player in the game, Joel Hanrahan, got the call with one out in the the ninth. Terry Collins went to the mound to make the pitching change for La Russa. The Hammer came on to face the hometown favorite Billy Butler and he was clearly pumped up as he sent back-to-back pitches wildly to the backstop. But he came back to strike out Butler with a low heater, hitting 98 mph on the gun.
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