AL wins longest All-Star match -- china.org.cn

Justin Morneau slid home on Michael Young's sacrifice fly in the 15th inning on Tuesday to give the American League a 4-3 victory over the National League, extending its All-Star unbeaten streak to 12.

Minnesota Twins Justin Morneau (R) scores the game-winning run from third on a sacrifice fly in the 15th inning as Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann tries to make the tag during Major League Baseball's All-Star game at Yankee Stadium in New York July 15, 2008.

In a game that started on Tuesday night and faded well into yesterday, Young ended a 4-hour, 40-minute marathon at 1:37am local time, with Yankee Stadium half-empty. It was a good thing, too—neither team had any pitchers left in the bullpen.

Slated for extinction, Yankee Stadium got perhaps its final moment in the US spotlight, hosting the All-Star as part of its grand send-off.

The NL was given a pre-game pep talk by Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, whose motto is: "Let's play two!" And they nearly did, matching the longest All-Star game ever.

Morneau started the winning rally with a leadoff single against loser Brad Lidge, and Ian Kinsler hit a low liner to left that Ryan Ludwick caught with a dive. After Dioner Navarro singled, J.D. Drew walked to load the bases.

American League All-Star Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins (L) congratulates teammate JD Drew of the Boston Red Sox after they scored on Drew's two-run home run in the seventh inning of Major League Baseball's All-Star game at Yankee Stadium in New York July 15, 2008.

Young lofted a fly to right and Cory Hart's throw home took two bounces and was slightly to the first-base side of the plate. Catcher Brian McCann gloved the ball and tried a sweep tag, but Young sneaked his right foot in, barely ahead of the tag. Plate umpire Derryl Cousins made the safe call, and the AL players left in the dugout rushed out to celebrate.

"Yankee Stadium is tough, I'm telling you," Yankees closer Mariano Rivera said. "Didn't want it to end."

The AL improved to 6-0 since the All-Star game began determining homefield advantage in the World Series.

Young got the winning hit off Trevor Hoffman in the 2006 All-Star game at Pittsburgh, and it gave the win to Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir, the 12th AL pitcher.

The game tied the NL's 2-1, 15-inning victory in 1967 at Anaheim. It made the AL 10-0-1 since its 1996 loss in Philadelphia and narrowed its overall deficit to 40-37-2.

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