Behind Mike Trout, AL defeats NL 6-3 in 2015 All-Star Game

The American League defeated the National League 6-3 in the 2015 All-Star Game in Cincinnati on Tuesday night.

The biggest blow came very early on. On the second pitch of the game, Mike Trout unloaded to right field, hitting a leadoff home run to give the AL a 1-0 lead. They would never fall behind. 

After hitting the homer in the first, Trout became the ninth player to hit for the "cycle" over their All-Star Game careers. He singled in 2012, doubled in 2013, tripled in 2014, and hit his first inning homer in 2015 to accomplish the feat. 

The 23-year-old Trout would go on to become the fifth player in MLB history to win the All-Star MVP award twice and the first player to win the award in back-to-back seasons.

Trout was named the All-Star Game starter through the fan vote and batted first and played center field in Royals manager Ned Yost's lineup. He delivered, going 1-for-3 with the home run, a walk, two runs, and a run batted in. 

Prince Fielder, Lorenzo Cain, Manny Machado, and Brian Dozier provided the rest of the offense for the American League. Fielder's RBI single off of Clayton Kershaw in the fifth gave the American League a 2-1 lead, one they would not look back upon. 

The National League's main offensive performer was Andrew McCutchen, who homered in the sixth to make it a 3-2 game. However, it was not enough as the AL's pitching kept the NL's hitters relatively silent throughout the night. 

David Price took the win the game, pitching a scoreless fourth inning with two strikeouts. Kershaw took the loss, allowing three hits and two runs over his ugly inning of work.

With the win, the American League has secured home field advantage in the 2015 World Series.

--Devan Fink

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