American League 1 - 3 National League (Final)

When I was a kid, the National League always won this game. As a Dodgers fan, of course, this made me very happy -- particularly since my Dad rooted for the Yankees. But the NL went into a decline in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and tonight they were going for their first All-Star Game win since 1996. They did have one tie in that stretch, but that was little consolation. Meanwhile, I had been stuck with a son who's a Yankees fan, so the shoe was on the other foot. But to make matters worse, the powers that be decided to award home field advantage in the World Series to the winner of this game.

Anyway, after years of waiting, the NL made it to the ninth inning with a two-run lead -- and a Dodger on the mound. Of course, I expected a disaster. And sure enough, David Ortiz led off the bottom of the ninth with a ringing single to right. Then a strikeout. Then a very strange play. A bloop fly to right . . . it's going to be caught -- no, it's not -- it drops -- tying runner on base -- but no! -- the right fielder whips the ball to second, and Ortiz (who was holding at first because he thought the ball would be caught), is forced at second. Two outs. Finally, a long fly ball to center -- but it's not a home run, it is caught, and the Senior Circuit is back on top. As it should be.

Oh, and Matt Capps -- the only Nat in the game -- pitched one third of an inning, struck out a guy, and was actually the winning pitcher. Natstown, baby!