NL Continues to Be ALs Bitch
Its official: The National League is a softball league. Yep, the [NL fell to the American League] 5-4 last night at the [78th All-Star Game](http://master.nypress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=90260709) at AT&T Park in San Francisco, extending the ALs dominance to 10 consecutive wins in games played to a decision (the [infamous tie](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=220709199) in 2002 breaks up the streak). The AL is now 5-0 since the Mid-Summer Classic started deciding homefield advantage for the World Series. Thats great news for the New York Yankees, who now only have to [make up 8.5 games](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/standings) and leapfrog five teams in the Wild Card race, win a Divisional playoff series without homefield advantage and win the League Championship Series without homefield advantage before theyre set for the World Series. Oh wait, that does sound pretty difficult
At least all three Yankee All-Stars contributed to the victory, with A-Rod, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada all posting a hit in the triumph. Posada actually had a double, and A-Rod had a stolen base, although he was gunned down at home plate by Ken Griffey Jr. on Ivan Rodriguezs subsequent single in the fourth inning.
The Mets were the big losers of the night, considering they are the frontrunner to represent the NL in the World Series. Mets closer Billy Wagner even gave up the eventual winning runs when the flame-throwing southpaw surrendered a two-run home run to Victor Martinez in the eighth inning. On the bright side, the Mets position players [totaled five hits]including three from Jose Reyes and Reyes and Beltran each contributed a run for the NL. Too bad it didn't get them anywherethey still lost.