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Crawford, Bullpen Lead AL to 4-3 All-Star Win

By the Associated Press

Posted Jul 15, 2009 1:12 AM CDT
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(AP) – Carl Crawford's glove and one of the great bullpens in All-Star history helped save the American League's winning streak last night at the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Crawford pulled back a home run with a leaping grab an inning before Curtis Granderson tripled and scored the tiebreaking run in the eighth, giving the AL a 4-3 victory.

"It was definitely probably the best catch I ever made," said Crawford, the MVP. "I didn't think it was going to carry that far, but it carried and I just had to find the wall, make the adjustment and make the play on it." The AL 12-0-1 since its 1996 defeat at Philadelphia,  the longest unbeaten streak in All-Star history. Not even President Barack Obama's ceremonial first pitch helped the NL, which had been 4-0 previously when sitting presidents threw out the first offering. The NL scored all its runs in the second inning, and 22 of its last 24 batters made out. AL manager Joe Maddon credited his bullpen "stallions" of Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan and Mariano Rivera.

American League's Curtis Granderson, right, of the Detroit Tigers is congratulated by teammate Edwin Jackson after defeating the National League 4-3 in the MLB All-Star baseball game in St. Louis.
American League's Curtis Granderson, right, of the Detroit Tigers is congratulated by teammate Edwin Jackson after defeating the National League 4-3 in the MLB All-Star baseball game in St. Louis.   (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
American League's Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox pitches during the third inning of the MLB All-Star baseball game in St. Louis, Tuesday, July 14, 2009.
American League's Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox pitches during the third inning of the MLB All-Star baseball game in St. Louis, Tuesday, July 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
American League's Carl Crawford of the Tampa Bay Rays makes a catch on a ball hit by National League's Brad Hawpe of the Colorado Rockies during seventh inning of the MLB All-Star baseball game in St. Louis, Tuesday, July 14, 2009.
American League's Carl Crawford of the Tampa Bay Rays makes a catch on a ball hit by National League's Brad Hawpe of the Colorado Rockies during seventh inning of the MLB All-Star baseball game in St....   (Tom Gannam)
American League's Victor Martinez of the Cleveland Indians tags out National League's Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies after Howard struck out in the eighth inning of the All-Star game.
American League's Victor Martinez of the Cleveland Indians tags out National League's Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies after Howard struck out in the eighth inning of the All-Star game.   (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
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All Star Game • National League • Carl Crawford • American League • Busch Stadium

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