For the second straight year, a Washington Nationals reliever was the winning pitcher at the All-Star Game. One year after Matt Capps picked up the victory in 2010, Tyler Clippard earned the win in 2011, as the National League picked up their second straight victory in defeating the American League, 5-1.
Clippard faced just one batter, and actually gave up a hit. He came on to relieve Cliff Lee with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning and surrendered a single to Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers. Luckily, left fielder Hunter Pence of the Houston Astros gunned out Jose Bautista trying to score from second base to end the inning. At the time, the AL led, 1-0.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, though, Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers hit a three-run home run to center field to give the NL a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Clippard was scheduled to be replaced by Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but since he was technically the live pitcher, he earned the decision.
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