A.L. pulls inside job

SAN FRANCISCO – Ichiro Suzuki sped around the bases as the ball bounced away from Ken Griffey Jr. for the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star game history. On a night of tricky hops, Ichiro and the American League rebounded to win – as usual.
Instead of a Barry Bonds splash shot, the defining hit at Tuesday’s All-Star game was Ichiro’s drive off the right-field wall at quirky AT&T Park.
His two-run homer in the fifth inning put the A.L. ahead, then Carl Crawford and Victor Martinez added conventional shots and the Americans held on for a 5-4 win.
“I thought it was going to go over the fence,” Ichiro said through a translator. “When it didn’t, I was really bummed.”
In a decade of dominance, the A.L. has won 10 straight games played to a decision, with the notorious 2002 tie at Milwaukee interrupting the run. The only longer streak was when the N.L. took 11 in a row from 1972-82.
“We’re tired of losing always,” the Chicago Cubs’ Derrek Lee said. “We just want to win one and put all of this to rest.”
Ichiro’s home run ball – smudged with green and red and signed by the Japanese star – immediately was handed over to the Hall of Fame.
“He’s an artist with that bat,” N.L. manager Tony La Russa said.
Alfonso Soriano hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth that made it 5-4, and the N.L. loaded the bases on three walks. Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez then retired Aaron Rowand on a routine fly to right for a save.
“I didn’t enjoy it a bit,” said A.L. manager Jim Leyland, so competitive that he screamed at an umpire in the ninth.
Willie Mays, Bonds’ godfather, was honored with a touching tribute before the game. In the Say Hey Kid’s day, the N.L. ruled All-Star games, but not anymore. The A.L. closed to 40-36-2.
“Nobody wants to lose,” Griffey said.
Soriano, who joined Frank Robinson as the only player to hit All-Star homers with each league, connected off Seattle closer J.J. Putz, who then walked J.J. Hardy. Rodriguez relieved and walked Lee on a full count – Leyland screamed at first-base umpire Charlie Reliford about a check swing. A walk to Orlando Hudson loaded the bases before Rowand’s fly ended it.
“I just missed it, just missed it,” Rowand said. “I was trying to hit a line drive somewhere, score a couple of runs. I just missed hitting that ball off or over that fence.”
Ichiro had been 3 for 15 in All-Star play coming in. He got three hits, was the game’s MVP and will be remembered for his strange shot, unfamiliar even to ballpark regulars such as Bonds.
“He came up to me and said I’ve never seen that happen before,” Griffey said.
Bonds, the center of attention in the days before the game, had a quiet night. He flied to right field in the first, hit an opposite-field shot to the warning track in left in the third, then departed at the top of the fourth.
He received a huge ovation after he came out on the red carpet during the pregame introductions and bowed three times to his adoring hometown fans. Hitting in the No. 2 spot – his last regular-season appearance in that slot was 20 years ago – he even faked a bunt on the first pitch of his second at-bat.
“There’s too many emotions to be able to explain it,” Bonds said. “This is my family who I grew up for a lot of years. All I can do is say thank you.”