All-Star Game, inning-by-inning

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A voice from the past beckons

"Now batting for the American League from the New York Yankees, the shortstop No. 2, Derek Je-ter. No. 2." Jeter approached the plate to lead off for the AL. Adam Wainwright stepped off the mound while legendary Yankees public announcer Bob Sheppard's voice echoed over a standing ovation. He doubled on a rope to right field, starting a three-run inning. AL 3, NL 0

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So much for the three-run lead

Boos rained on Red Sox lefthander Jon Lester from the pro-American League crowd as an RBI double from Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy sailed over Mike Trout's head in left field. It was the second run Lester gave up in his inning of work, making a dent in the AL early lead. AL 3, NL 2

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Wink at this, Cano

Robinson Cano gave Alfredo Simon a wink before the Seattle star settled in for the second at-bat. Four pitches later, Cincinnati's Simon threw him an 86-mile-per-hour splitter that Cano struck out swinging. Simon plowed through Trout, Cano and Detroit's Miguel Cabrera to strand Jeter at second before he left the game the next half-inning. AL 3, NL 2

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Watch that Gordon run

After Chase Utley was hit by a Chris Sale pitch with two out, the Philadelphia second baseman was replaced by the Dodgers' Dee Gordon, who then galloped around the bases for the tying run, greeted at home by an emphatic Carlos Gomez, on Lucroy's second RBI double of the game. NL 3, AL 3

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Not what Neshek was hoping for

Park Center graduate and former Twins reliever Pat Neshek received an ovation as he left the mound, but it wasn't the outing he hoped in front of the home crowd. He recorded only one out and gave up two runs on three hits on 15 pitches. Trout and Houston's Jose Altuve drove in the runs on a double and a sacrifice fly, as the AL reclaimed the lead. AL 5, NL 3

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Quite the contrast on infield grass

All-Stars come in all sizes. White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, (6-5, 255 pounds) stood next to Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (5-5, 174) as Koji Uehara replaced Scott Kazmir with two outs. Before the change, Altuve made a nice play throwing on the run to Abreu, who dug the ball out of the dirt to get Gordon out at first in the scoreless inning.. AL 5, NL 3

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Kimbrel does what Kimbrel does

Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel came out throwing gas in his outing, topping at 99 mph in his 19-pitch inning. Alexei Ramirez reached on a fielding error from Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (right after Freeman couldn't reach a pop-up that landed in the first row), but Derek Norris, Brandon Moss and Ian Kinsler all struck out swinging. AL 5, NL 3

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Remember Game 163, Fernando?

It wouldn't be a Fernando Rodney outing without an imaginary bow shot in the sky after his outing. The veteran Seattle closer, just added to the AL roster Saturday night, struck out the Mets' Daniel Murphy and concluded the Fernando Rodney Experience with his signature celebration. AL 5, NL 3

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We're going to win, Twins!

It was a long wait, but surely worth it — the two Twins All-Stars finally took the field. The 41, 048 fans at Target Field stood on their feet as closer Glen Perkins threw to catcher Kurt Suzuki for the save. It couldn't have been scripted any better as Perkins took down the NL in quick order, getting Miguel Montero, Josh Harrison and Charlie Blackmon to end the game. AL 5, NL 3

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What does it all mean? We'll see in October

The American League clinched home-field advantage in the World Series for the second year in a row, improving to 9-3 in All-Star Games since the 2002 tie led to the home-field angle in the first place. Perhaps more importantly for Twins fans, the AL won for the first time in the three games in Minnesota.