MVP Prince leads NL to Back-to-Back Victories for 1st Time in 15 Years

After winning its first All Star Game in 14 years last season, the National League was determined to build on its momentum as host of the World Series.  The game began as a pitcher's duel as one hit was allowed through the first three innings.  After 11 straight AL batters were shutdown, Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo home run to right center in the top of the 4th for an early 1-0 lead.  After three straight hits were given up to the AL, Adrian Beltre looked to extend his team's lead with a single, but Hunter Pence had other ideas as he threw out Jose Bautista at home for the final out of the inning.  The National League responded with two straight innings of scoring.  The NL would take their first lead of the game off Prince Fielder's 3-run homer in the bottom of the 4th and would later extend their lead off Andre Ethier's RBI single in the 5th.  Although the NL had a 4-1 lead late in the game, Hunter Pence knew in his mind that this wasn't enough.  His 7th inning single to shallow left and his double steal on a wild pitch put him in scoring position as Pablo Sandoval headed to the plate.  Sandoval's ground-rule double to left scored Pence and put the National League up 5-1 for good.  Tyler Clippard of the Washington Nationals earned the victory for the National League with his 1/3 innings pitched in the top of the 4th and Brian Wilson, aka "The Beard", came in for the final two outs of the game and earned the save.  Prince Fielder also became the first Milwaukee Brewer to win the MVP of the Midsummer Classic.  The National League champion is yet to be determined, but whoever it turns out to be will enjoy the home-field advantage in the World Series like the World Champion Giants did last year.