Clayton Kershaw Pitches Perfect Third Inning in All-Star Game

It was one of the more boring All-Star games that I can remember. It mostly felt like one long Chevrolet commercial with some lackluster baseball thrown in between. The American League came out on top 3-0 as their pitching held the National League to a mere three hits on the night by Carlos Beltran, Paul Goldschmidt, and hometown favorite David Wright. The American League snapped its three-game All-Star losing streak Tuesday at Citi Field with a three-hit shutout while gaining home field advantage for the 2013 World Series.

Clayton Kershaw had pitched three shutout innings in his three All-Star appearances. Photo: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona’s Patrick Corbin took the loss while Chris Sale picked up the win. Mariano Rivera, who was awarded the M.V.P. pitched the bottom of the eighth inning for the A.L. as Tim McCarver attempted to decipher the lyrics to Enter Sandman to my dismay. Why Rivera was not closing out the game in the ninth is beyond me, but Joe Nathan was the one who collected the save. Mariano had his swan song in New York as he pitched a perfect inning in what is to be his final All-Star game.

Part of the reason for my disinterest was the lack of Dodgers in the game.

Mariano Rivera waves to the crowd after the All-Star game. Photo: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Bochy‘s massive snubbing of Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Although I’m actually rather glad that none of the Dodgers were there possibly risking injury, and instead they are resting and getting ready for the second half. Robinson Cano was hit by Matt Harvey in the first inning on his leg, and he had to come out of the game. After Hanley Ramirez was injured in the World Baseball Classic, I am always afraid of injury to a player during one of these essentially meaningless exhibition games.

Clayton Kershaw, the lone Dodger representative, did what we are used to Kersh doing. He pitched a perfect third inning for the N.L. Kershaw only needed 14 pitches to induce three fly outs from J.J. Hardy, Mike Trout, and Dustin Pedroia. Great job Kersh! Now please go home and rest!