Washington Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard was honored and excited to be selected to the 2011 NL All-Star squad this year and he hoped to get in the game and make a difference. Clippard came into the game in the fourth inning with the NL All-Stars down 1-0, faced one batter to end his night and now, surprisingly is in line possibly to get the win for the National League.
After allowing a single to Adrian Beltre and then having Hunter Pence gun down Jose Bautista for the final out of the fourth, Clippard's night was finished. However in the top of the fifth Prince Fielder took C.J. Wilson yard for a three-run home run to give the NL a 3-1 lead. This puts Clippard in position to be the winning pitcher if the score holds up.
Clippard is the lone National to be selected to be in the All-Star game in Arizona. He threw only three pitches, but it was enough to possibly put his mark on the game. In 2010 the Nationals All-Star representative Matt Capps earned the win for the NL squad and if Tuesday's score stands it will be the second consecutive year a National pitcher wins an All-Star game.