Braves' McCann Named MVP As NL Wins All-Star Game 3-1

The bat Brian McCann used to hit the decisive three-run double in the seventh inning of the 2010 All-Star game is headed to the Hall of Fame:

Thanks to a three-run double from Braves catcher Brian McCann, the NL ended its 13-year jinx against the American League in tonight’s MLB All-Star Game. McCann was named the game’s MVP for his efforts. It was the first time a Brave had been named MVP of the game since Fred McGriff in 1994.

McCann finished 1-for-2 and was credited with throwing out a runner stealing in the 6th inning when the Rangers’ Elvis Andrus (a former Braves farmhand) overslid second base and was tagged out.

The National League’s victory means that, should the Braves advance to the World Series, they would have home-field advantage.

The NL had lost 14 straight All-Star Games.

Braves second baseman Martin Prado made his first All-Star appearance, starting at second base and going 0-for-3 with two ground outs and a flyout. The other Braves All-Stars, pitcher Tim Hudson and utility man Omar Infante, did not play in the game.

At the All-Star Game in Anaheim, California, tonight, four Braves are likely to take the field. Martin Paro will start for the National League team at second base and should play 5 or 6 innings.

Brian McCann will likely be the first catcher off the bench in relief of starter Yadier Molina. Omar Infante will likely see some action as a super-sub in the late innings.

Braves starter Tim Hudson will likely pitch an inning in the middle of the game as well.

After losing the Final Vote competition, Billy Wagner probably thought he would not make the All-Star team in this, his final season. As it turns out, he did make the team. He was recently named as an injury replacement.

You won’t be able to see him in tonight’s game, though; he respectfully turned down the invitation so that he could rest a slightly injured toe. He should be ready to go for the Braves after the break.

This brings the Braves' total number of All-Stars up to six, although only four will be able to participate in the actual game. In addition to Wagner, rookie phenom Jason Heyward (who was voted a starter by the fans) will be unable to play due to his lingering thumb injury. Like Wagner, though, Heyward should be ready to go soon after the All-Star break.

The Braves will have to content themselves with a still-impressive total of five all-stars at next Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game. Closer Billy Wagner finished a distant fourth in the “Final Vote” competition. Reds first baseman Joey Votto easily won the vote, which makes sense, since he has been one of the three best players in the NL so far and should have—by any measure—made the initial roster.

Wagner is 5-0 with 19 saves, a 1.27 ERA, and 55 strikeouts in 35 innings this season, his first with Atlanta. He has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the season.