Usually, an All-Star game of any kind is little more than an exhibition.  This year, baseball’s version lived up to its billing as the “Midsummer Classic.”  The American League continued its dominance winning the game 4-3 in 15 innings in front of a sellout crowd in the last year of Yankee Stadium.

Justin Morneau scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Michael Young by just beating Corey Hart’s throw to the plate.  The game last 4 hours and 50 minutes, the longest in history by more than an hour and tied the longest contest by innings set in 1967.  It was compelling drama featuring home runs (courtesy of Matt Holliday and J.D. Drew), and some terrific defensive plays to keep the game tied through the extra innings. 

Usually the outcomes of these games don’t matter.  I would watch with casual interest just to see what the best players in the game can do.  This year was different.  I found myself engaged waiting to see who would come up with the big hit.  I wanted to see if Dan Uggla could redeem himself after committing three errors (he didn’t).  I was expecting Aaron Cook to crumble under the pressure, but he showed why he is an All-Star by working out of a bases loaded jam created by Uggla’s poor defense.  Mariano Rivera worked out of his own dicey situation by inducing a double play. 

I was also most interested to see whether or not the disaster of 2002 would be repeated and the game would end in a tie.  The American League had run out of players, and was using Scott Kazmir in the 15^th even though he had thrown 104 pitches on Sunday.  Manager Terry Francona was trying as hard as possible not to use him, but was forced to after the extras went further and further.  Another scoreless inning could seriously have forced Bud Selig to declare another tie.  Or perhaps an outfielder or two would have taken the mound.  Either way, the 2008 version of the All-Star made for great theater and turned up aces for major league baseball.

Scott Kazmir was throwing "junk" according to teammate Evan Longoria in the 15th.  Kazmir had thrown over 100 pitches on Sunday and wasn't supposed to throw in the All-Star game.  Thankfully, he didn't have to throw anymore thanks to a slide by Justin Morneau.