That long winless streak for the National League seems like the distant past.
The NL beat up the American League MVP and cruised to an 8-0 win in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday in Kansas City. It is the third straight year the NL has won, and as a result, the winner of the NLCS will host the 2012 World Series. It was the largest margin of victory for the NL in All-Star Game history.
Tuesday was the 8th shutout in All-Star Game history and the 1st since 1996.It was the second-largest shutout trailing only the 1946 game.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 11, 2012
Tigers starter Justin Verlander allowed five runs in the first inning, including a three-RBI triple from Giants infielder Pablo Sandoval. All eight NL runs came over two innings. Rangers starter Matt Harrison allowed three two-out runs in the fourth inning, including a two-run homer from Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera.
Cabrera went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored and was awarded the game's MVP.
As for Billy Butler, the lone Royals player on the roster, he went 0-for-2, grounding out to third in the seventh inning and striking out swinging on a full count in the ninth. Here is SI.com's box score.
In the end, 41 position players and 20 pitchers total played in the game.
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