BOX SCORE
SAN FRANCISCO The National League All-Stars rolled to a lopsided win over their AmericanLeague counterparts thanks to contributions from all four Giantsrepresentatives.Matt Cain worked two scoreless innings to start the game and Melky Cabrera, who was awarded the game's MVP, andPablo Sandoval combined for five RBIs to lead the N.L. to an 8-0 win, its thirdstraight in the Midsummer Classic.The Senior Circuit jumped out to an early lead with a five-run first inning. AfterCarlos Gonzalez struck out against Justin Verlander to open the game, Cabrerasingled to the opposite field and came around to score on Ryan Brauns double.Pablo Sandoval came up with the bases loaded after back-to-back walks to CarlosBeltran and Buster Posey and drove in three runs with a triple to theright-field wall.With the run support that too often eludes him in San Francisco, Cain went towork on a star-studded American League lineup and was perfect after Derek Jetersleadoff infield single. The Giants right-hander set down his next six batters,including a strikeout of Jose Bautista on a 95 MPH fastball to end the firstinning.Cain was replaced with the Washington Nationals Gio Gonzalez in the third inningwith the N.L. leading 5-0.Cain was asked by Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal to compare hisAll-Star outing to his perfect game and World Series win."Its right up there with all of them," Cain said. "Itsdefinitely right up there with all of them -- theres all the nerves, allthe pressure, and all the excitement. That was a thrilling two innings rightthere."Cabrera was in the middle of another N.L. rally in the fourth inning that putRon Washingtons squad in an 8-0 hole. Cabrera, who played for the host KansasCity Royals in 2011 before coming to the Giants in an offseason trade, put thefinishing touches on the N.L.s blowout win with a two-run home run tostraightaway left.
Cabrera is the sixth Giant to win the All-Star Game MVP award, joining Willie Mays (twice), Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey and Bobby Bonds.
Buster Posey did not have the banner day at the plate that his teammatesSandoval and Cabrera did, but still scored a run after his first-inning walkand caught five shutout innings.Rosenthal also asked Cain about the criticism Giants fansreceived for stuffing the ballot box to send four San Francisco representatives to KansasCity.I thinkit turned out great, Cain said. Thats definitely very comforting to be outthere and have Buster behind the plate -- he knows what I want to throw, and(he was) doing good job back there. And then to turn around and see Melky andPablo and especially the way they just performed in the first inning. That wasawesome.Ryan Cook, the OaklandAs lone All-Star representative, worked a perfect seventh inning withstrikeouts of Bryce Harper and David Wright.
The 8-0 final score was the first in All-Star Game history and just the eighth shutout in the Midsummer Classic.
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