NEW YORK (AP) -All Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona needed was a green traffic light in the American League dugout.
The AL ran wild on the base paths in Tuesday night’s 4-3 victory in 15 innings, stealing a record six bases in the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium. The previous mark belonged to the AL, which swiped five in a 13-8 victory in 1998, at Coors Field.
“You don’t want to change your game at all,” said Cleveland’s Grady Sizemore, who set up a big run with a steal of second. “If you’re a base stealer and you get in the situation in the game where you can take a base, I think you should go.”
Boston outfielder J.D. Drew, selected the game’s MVP, had the record-breaking steal, taking second before White Sox slugger Carlos Quentin struck out to end the 13th inning.
All of the AL’s pressure on NL catchers Geovany Soto and Russell Martin almost went for naught because the league’s big bats struggled with runners in scoring position.
“We got a lot of guys on this team that can run, so I don’t think anybody’s going to hold them back,” Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. “If they get a good jump, go.”
Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada stole second for the NL, leading to Adrian Gonzalez’s go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
The seven stolen bases for the two teams set an All-Star game record, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The AL’s aggressiveness on the base paths backfired in the 11th when Pittsburgh’s Nate McLouth threw out Tampa Bay catcher Dioner Navarro trying to score from second on Michael Young’s single to center.
Sizemore stole second before pinch-hitter Evan Longoria of the Rays delivered a tying ground-rule double in the eighth off Mets closer Billy Wagner.
“That was a big bag,” Ian Kinsler of the Rangers said. “That one probably had a little effect on the game but other than that there wasn’t too many that did. Guys are out there playing hard and playing their game. Whatever their game is, that’s what they’re going to do.”
Derek Jeter got the thievery started, swiping second after reaching on a one-out infield single in the bottom of the first. But Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton struck out and Alex Rodriguez fouled out to Soto to end the inning.
The pattern continued in the second with Milton Bradley nabbing second on Soto after a one-out walk. The Texas designated hitter was stranded there when NL starter Ben Sheets got Pedroia to fly out to center with two outs and two on.
Kinsler picked up another steal in the fifth and Hamilton stole second in the sixth, both with the Dodgers’ Martin behind the plate. Neither made it to third as the AL struggled to get a hit with runners on.
Kinsler appeared to pick up another steal in the 11th but second base umpire Tom Hallion called him out. Replays indicated Tejada’s tag attempt never touched the Rangers’ second baseman.
“I thought I got in there but it’s a tough call for him,” Kinsler said. “It was kind of bang-bang.”
Cristian Guzman of the Washington Nationals was the only NL runner caught stealing. Navarro, whose eighth-inning throwing error allowed Tejada to reach third, cut him down at second to end the ninth.
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