National League wins for first time since 1996
Howard, Doc happy to be part of NL’s win – Todd Zolecki, MLB.com
Manuel, NL finally end All-Star game drought – Jim Salisbury, CSNPhilly.com
National uprising: NL wins All-Star game – Lyle Spencer, MLB.com
Charlie Manuel looks on at the 81st Al-Star game as manager of the National League for a second straight season. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
The last time the National League was victorious in the mid-summer classic it was played in Veterans Stadium. With last night’s long overdue victory for the senior circuit the winner of the National League pennant will be awarded home field advantage in the World Series. The National League defeated the American League in Anaheim by a final score of 3-1, and unfortunately it was largely without the significant contributions of any Phillies, except for Charlie Manuel.
The Phillies sent two players to the All-Star Game, Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay. Chase Utley was voted in as the starting second baseman but sat out and skipped the trip due to his recovery from a thumb surgery. Howard was the designated hiter for the National League, hitting behind Albert Pujols. Both power hitting first basemen went 0-for-2 on the night before being replaced by Adrian Gonzalez of San Diego and Joey Votto of Cincinnati. Both of them also went 0-for-2 in the game. Howard struck out against Tampa Bay’s David Price to lead off the second inning and grounded out against former Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee in the fourth inning.
Roy Halladay’s night was brief, as it tends to be for pitchers in the All-Star game. Manuel brought Halladay in for the sixth inning and he lasted just two-thirds of an inning. Halladay allowed two base hits, to Derek Jeter of the Yankees and Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers. Jeter singled to right center on the first pitch he saw from Halladay and was replaced by Texas Ranger Elvis Andrus as a pinch runner. Andrus was caught stealing second base off of Halladay for the first out on what ended up being a double play. After striking out Paul Konerko of the White Sox, catcher Brian McCann threw to second baseman Brandon Phillips of Cincinnati. Andrus had done enough to steal the base but he slid past the bag and Phillips applied a tag before Andrus placed his foot back on the bag. After Hamilton singled to right field Manuel relieved Halladay of his duties for the evening, and thus brought an end to the Phillies’ participation on the field for the 2010 All-Star Game.
It was a couple of former Phillies though who scored some important runs. With the National League trailing 1-0 with two outs in the seventh inning, McCann lined a bases clearing double in to right field to score Scott Rolen (to tie the game), Matt Holliday ( for the lead) and Marlon Byrd (for insurance). The only way that combination would be tougher to swallow for a Phillies fan would be if a New York Met were involved. But with a pair of former Phillies, a catcher from the rival Braves, and a 2007 playoff pest all involved, it is still bittersweet to a point.
Original Story:
http://machorow.us/2010/07/14/phillie...
