Retired manager and the National League coach for the 83rd All-Star Game Tony La Russa received quite a bit of criticism for his choice to start San Francisco Giants ace Matt Cain–who threw the first perfect game in Giants history earlier this season–over surprise success story R.A. Dickey. As it turns out, that wasn’t a terrible decision. Led by Giants teammates Melky Cabrera and Pablo Sandoval, the National League All-Stars bested the American League All-Stars 8-0 at Kansas City’s Kaufman Stadium. The NL staff combined for a six-hitter, blanking home run contest winner Prince Fielder and the rest of the powerful American League bats.
“I didn’t come to win an MVP. That’s just a surprise,” said Cabrera, a former Kansas City Royals outfielder who now plays for the San Francisco Giants. “The same opportunity that Kansas City gave me last year is the same opportunity that San Francisco is giving me every day to showcase my talent.”
Last night’s All-Star Game was a triples fest for the NL. In the first, Pablo Sandoval hit a bases-loaded triple, which is amazing because it is the first in All-Star Game history and also because Sandoval is so slow his nickname is Kung Fu Panda. Rafael Furcal and Ryan Braun also netted three-baggers, making the NL the first league to snag three triples in a single All-Star Game.
Image: SF Gate
Tags: sports, baseball, professional baseball, summer classic, all-star game, matt cain, melky cabrera, all-star game, nl beats al 8-0, national league, american league, national league all-stars, american league all-stars, national league beats american league 8-0, 2012 all star game, san francisco giants, kansas city royals, tony la russa, 83rd all-star game, rafael furcal, ryan braun