twins/mlb

SAN FRANCISCO - The days of hearing professional athletes complain about losing precious vacation time during the All-Star break -- all because of that pesky obligation to play in the actual game -- could be ending.

After several failed attempts to regenerate interest in the mid-summer classic, Major League Baseball seemed to launch a new strategy this year: pampering the players like never before.

The Twins contingent -- Ron Gardenhire, Johan Santana, Torii Hunter and Justin Morneau -- arrived in San Francisco on a private jet. MLB loaded them up with freebies Tuesday, offering everything from All-Star jerseys to Apple TVs.

"It was unbelievable," Santana said. "I don't even know if we'll be able to fit everything in the plane."

From all accounts, the participants had a grand time, as the American League extended its All-Star winning streak to 10 games with a 5-4 victory at AT&T Park.

Ichiro Suzuki, who reportedly was close to five-year, $100 million extension with the Seattle Mariners, was named the game's Most Valuable Player, going 3-for-3 with a two-run, inside-the-park homer that put the AL ahead in the fifth inning.

Santana performed the best of the Twins, pitching a 1-2-3 seventh inning with two strikeouts to protect a 3-2 lead. Morneau and Hunter each went 0-for-2, relying on AL teammates Carl Crawford (solo home run) and Victor Martinez (pinch two-run homer) to provide the offensive punch.

Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer in the ninth off J.J. Putz, pulling the NL within one run. But with the bases loaded and a sellout crowd of 43,965 on its feet, Francisco Rodriguez got Aaron Rowand to fly to right field for the game's final out.

After helping keep the NL winless in All-Star play since 1996, the Twins posse boarded their private jet for Minnesota.

Players have been taking private planes to All-Star Games for years, and Santana organized the Twins' effort this week, shortening their All-Star time commitment.

Still, their two-night stay near the Golden Gate Bridge was filled with memorable experiences. Hunter attended the private party thrown by Barry Bonds and rapper Jay-Z on Monday night. Morneau and Santana attended another bash thrown by the players' association.

But the biggest surprise came Tuesday, when the players and their families were led to a room filled with gadgets, memorabilia and merchandise -- all of it free.

"My dad went crazy," Santana said.

Hunter couldn't stop smiling about his haul.

"When it's free, you grab three," he said.

Played in San Francisco's gorgeous 7-year- old ballpark along the bay, this game took on the feel of the Academy Awards, with the stands no doubt filled with Silicon Valley's high society bigwigs.

The players were led to the ballpark along a red carpet, interviewed while riding in convertibles, the whole event staged for TV.

Hunter's other All-Star Game experience came in 2002, in Milwaukee, the infamous contest that ended in a 7-7 tie, which spurred MLB to adopt home-field advantage incentive the next year.