National League Wins All-Star Game, 8-0

At the Los Angeles Times, "National League defeats American League, 8-0, in All-Star Game":

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Pablo Sandoval and Melky Cabrera turned the All-Star game into a Giant blowout.

Flashing their bright orange spikes and booming bats, the San Francisco sluggers keyed a five-run blitz against Justin Verlander in the first inning that sent the National League to an 8-0 romp over the American League on Tuesday night.

Cabrera homered and won the MVP award, and Giants teammate Matt Cain started a strong pitching performance for the NL in its most-lopsided All-Star victory. Cain combined with Stephen Strasburg, R.A. Dickey, Aroldis Chapman and the rest of a lights-out staff on a six-hitter.

"San Francisco Giants show," Matt Kemp of the rival Dodgers said during the game.

Ryan Braun, an All-Star again after his drug suspension was overturned last winter, doubled, tripled and made a fine catch in the outfield to help give the NL its first three-game winning streak in two decades.

Chipper Jones singled in his final All-Star at-bat at age 40 as the NL, under retired manager Tony La Russa, once again claimed home-field advantage in the World Series.

Teen sensation Bryce Harper had a shaky All-Star debut. Fellow rookie Mike Trout, only 20, showed off his dynamic skills.

The game was pretty much decided a few moments after it started.

Yeah, that first inning was a blowout.

More at the New York Times, "N.L. All-Stars Crush A.L. to Earn Home-Field Advantage for World Series":

Melky Cabrera, who played for the host Royals last season before a trade to San Francisco, was named most valuable player. Cabrera singled off Verlander and scored the game’s first run, and smashed a two-run homer off Matt Harrison in the fourth inning.

Cabrera, who has played for four teams in the last four seasons, became the first Giant to win the All-Star M.V.P. award since another well-traveled outfielder, Bobby Bonds, did it at this ballpark in 1973.

“I didn’t come to win the M.V.P.,” Cabrera, sitting with his mother and grandmother at the postgame news conference, said through a translator. “That was just a surprise. It was a great gift the Lord gave me. But the same opportunity Kansas City gave me last year is the same opportunity San Francisco gave me this year, to play every day and show my talent. I’m just thankful for the fans who gave me an opportunity to be here.”