2011 MLB All-Star Game: National League Defeats American League 5-1

Home field advantage for the 2011 World Series goes to the National League, as the NL All-Stars defeated the AL All-Stars on Tuesday night in Arizona by a final score of 5-1.

The men that were given the honor of being the starting pitchers for this one were the Los Angeles Angels' Jered Weaver for the American League and Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League. Neither of them gave up a run in their time in the game, but Weaver only went one inning. In fact, Halladay was the only pitcher for either side to pitch two full innings. Overall, nineteen pitchers took to the mound for this one, ten for the National League and nine for the American League.

The AL struck first in this one against Halladay's Philadelphia teammate, Cliff Lee, when Boston Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-out solo home run to left field in the top of the fourth to give the Junior Circuit a 1-0 lead. The American League kept the rally going with consecutive singles by Toronto's Jose Bautista and Texas' Josh Hamilton to put runners on first and second. Then, Adrian Beltre of the Rangers singled to left, but Bautista was thrown out at home plate by left fielder Hunter Pence of the Houston Astros.

The NL wasted no time in answering back against new pitcher C.J. Wilson, also of the Rangers. The New York Mets' Carlos Beltran and Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers opened the inning with singles, and Milwaukee Brewers' first baseman Prince Fielder brought them both home with a big home run to center field, giving the National League a 3-1 lead that they would never relinquish.

The National League added another run in the bottom of the fifth, when a single by the Dodgers' Andre Ethier brought the Brewers' Rickie Weeks in to score. Ethier was thrown out attempting to stretch it into a double to end the inning. The NL then concluded the scoring in the bottom of the seventh, when a ground rule double to left field by the San Francisco Giants' Pablo Sandoval scored Pence with the National League's fifth run.

The American League attempted to make a bit of a comeback in the top of the ninth inning, as Carlos Quention of the Chicago White Sox reached on an error with one out, and Tampa Bay's Matt Joyce followed that with a single to right, advancing to second on the throw to put runners on second and third. Twins' first baseman Michael Cuddyer, who entered the game at first base in the bottom of the seventh inning, came to the plate against Giants' closer Brian Wilson (and his beard). Cuddyer flew out to right for the second out of the inning, and Wilson got Chicago's Paul Konerko to ground out to shortstop to end the ball game.

Washington Nationals' reliever Tyler Clippard was given credit for the victory in the 2011 MLB All-Star Game, and Wilson was credited with the save. Wilson was credited with the loss for the American League, who dropped their second straight Mid-Summer Classic.

Regular season MLB action will kick off again on Thursday.

2011 MLB All-Star Game: Will Cuddyer Have An Impact?

We know that Michael Cuddyer is the lone representative for the Minnesota Twins in the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game tonight at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. But will he have an impact on the game? It will be interesting to see if he can play a role in securing home-field advantage for the American League in this year's World Series, which the AL would secure with a victory.

Cuddyer's versatility would give American League manager Joe Girardi some options in the late innings if he wants them. Cuddyer has played in the outfield for the Twins this year, while also seeing time at both first base and second base. When it comes time to put Cuddyer into the game, the American League can substitute him in pretty much anywhere and get a favorable result.

Here is everything else you'll need to know for tonight's Mid-Summer Classic, which is set to get underway here momentarily, thanks to the good folks at SB Nation.

-SB Nation has the rosters for both sides for you. There were 84 different players selected to be All-Stars this year, and if you're not there to buy a program, this is a heck of a way to figure out who they all are.

-If you missed Monday night's Home Run Derby, there was an incredible live stream of the festivities going on at Baseball Nation. Be sure to check it out!

-Over the Monster, SB Nation's Red Sox site, debates whether or not there were too many All-Stars this year. I don't know. . .they managed to leave me off the team somehow, so maybe 84 is just fine.

-Baseball Nation has come up with some ways of fixing the All-Star Game.

-Are "snubs" from the All-Star Game something to be taken seriously? At least one person thinks that they are.

If you're a big fan of Twitter, be sure to follow all of the updates for tonight's Major League Baseball All-Star Game over at @SBNationLive. Enjoy the game, ladies and gentlemen, and go Michael Cuddyer!