2008 America's Baseball League All Star Game
AL Wins 2008 All Star Game to take 3-2 lead in the series
A repeat of last years game, the players would be the difference. AL was managed by Jarrod Sinclair and the NL managed by Ted Talbott, last year's World Series managers.
Sinclair would go with Big John Lackey to start countered by San Diego's own Johan Santana.
With both sides being retired in order in the first, the AL would make some noise in the 2nd. With 2 out, A-Rod walked and was advanced as Thome hit a ground ball to thirdbasemen, Miguel Cabrera who kicked the ball, putting runners on 1st and 2nd. Chipper Jones would cash in on the NL mistake by knocking in A-Rod from 2nd on a base it to right center. The American League would tack on another run in the top of the 2nd off of Jake Peavy courtesy of a Matt Holiday single.
After two perfect innings from Lackey, the AL went with AL Cy Young candidate Erik Bedard. Bedard struck out the side in the 3rd, but was not so lucky in the 4th. After striking out his 4th victim, he had to face the heart of the NL's order. Albert Pujols ripped a single to right, followed by a Carlos Pena single and a Magglio Ordonez walk to load the bases. Adam Dunn was due up, but Talbott brought in Jorge Posada to hit against the lefty. Posada dumped the ball into shallow right bringing in Pujols, but Pena was cut down at the plate by KC's Ichiro Suzuki. Sinclair brought in Houston Street to face David Wright, who greated Street with 2 RBI single to right giving the NL the lead 3-2. After a V-Mart walk, Cincinnati's Robinson Cano singled to right scoring Wright from 2nd giving the NL the early 4-2 lead.
The AL would answer in the top of the 5th, scoring 2 runs on Jeremy Accardo's balks.
In the top of the 6th, the AL pinch hit Jermaine Dye for Alex Rios. Dye hooked a ball down the left field line for a two run home run to put the nail in the coffin for the National League. The AL would add one more insurance run in the top of the 7th as pinch hitter Mike Lowell went deep to give the American League the victory 8-4 and home field advantage in the World Series.
Jermaine Dye is named MVP going 2-2, HR, 2 RBI. Other notable performances came from Jonathon Papelbon throwing 2 perfect innings striking out 4 for the AL. The NL's Carlos Pena goes 2-3.