2014 MLB All-Star Game: American League defeats National League; Secures home field advantage for World Series

We don’t know who will be playing in the 2014 World Series, but we do know that the series will not start in San Francisco (or any other NL ballpark). Last night the American League All-Stars defeated the National League All-Stars, 5-3, in the midsummer classic. The win gives the AL home field advantage for the World Series.

The San Francisco Giants had three All-Star representatives in Minneapolis for the game and festivities: Madison Bumgarner, Hunter Pence, and Tim Hudson (who was a replacement pick due to Bumgarner pitching on Sunday).

The boys in the orange and black didn’t see too much playing time, however. Bumgarner of course wasn’t going to pitch and Hudson stood very little chance of getting in as a replacement unless something went very wrong for the NL team. Pence did enter the lineup, replacing Yasiel Puig in right field.

Here’s about all you need to know.

• Pence was 0-for-1 with a ground out
• Puig was 0-for-3 and struck out all 3 times
• Puig also hit 0 home runs in the Home Run Derby (that’s ZERO in case you weren’t sure)
• I was also o-fer in the All-Star Game with no strikeouts, and hit zero home runs in the derby
• Therefore, I am greater than or equal to Puig in All-Star Games

In terms of the rest of the game, Adam Wainwright got beat around pretty badly in the 1st inning, giving up a leadoff double to Derek Jeter, a triple to Mike Trout and a 2-run home run to Miguel Cabrera. Ouch. I wonder if Mike Matheny was re-thinking starting his guy over Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw, by the way, pitched the 2nd inning and was perfect doing so.

Trout was the MVP. Jeter showed everyone he could still play, making a great defensive play in the 1st inning, going 2-for-2, and scoring the first run of the ballgame. It really was Jeter’s night and MLB couldn’t get enough of “The Captain.”

Regardless of what you think of Jeter, the Yankees, or Jeter has been overrated most of his career, it was nice to see the respect for one of the so-called “good guys” retiring from the game, especially from the players on the field who grew up with Jeter as their baseball hero.

If you want to catch some of the Jeter moments, you can watch here.

Derek Jeter tribute during 2014 MLB All-Star Game