NL Hopes Having Home Field Will Help Snap AL's Dominance In All-Star Game

July 14, 2009 5:38 p.m. EST

St. Louis, MO (AHN) - The National League will try to accomplish something that hasn't happened in the last 12 years--beat the American League in the famed Midsummer Classic.

Tuesday night, the NL All-Stars will lean on defending Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum to hold off the potent lineup on the other side of the Busch Stadium, where the 80th All-Star Game will be played.

Roy Halladay will lead the AL All-Stars, armed with a winning tradition that has seen them boast the final tally in their favor since 1996.

An 11-game winning streak and the World Series home field always in their favor, the AL All-Stars will try to beat their foes to extend one of the most one-sided dominance in the history of any All-Star Games in North American professional sports.

Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki is the usual leadoff man for the AL, followed by 10-time All-Star Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees at second, with Minnesota's Joe Mauer at third and Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira at the cleanup spot.

Boston's Jason Bay will hit fifth, Texas' Josh Hamilton and Michael Young, who replaced the injured Evan Longoria at third, will bat sixth and seventh, respectively, while Toronto's Aaron Hill will bat eighth.

Hill is starting because the Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia opted to spend time with his pregnant wife, who went into labor early with the couple's child.

Because the game will be played at an NL stadium, no designated hitter is in effect and thus Halladay, who has 10 wins at the break, will bring out his bat at the bottom of the batting order.

Over at the NL, Florida's Hanley Ramirez will hit first, followed by Philadelphia's Chase Utley and Cardinals hero Albert Pujols at third.

His protection will come from Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, with first-time All-Star Raul Ibanez of the Phillies batting next, to be followed by the New York Mets' David Wright, the Phillies' Shane Victorino, the Cardinals' Yadier Molina and Lincecum.

Victorino got the start after Carlos Beltran skipped the event due to an injury. The Phillies' speedster is in his first All-Star appearance and so is Molina.

Tampa Bay's Joe Maddon will lead the AL All-Stars while Philadelphia's Charlie Manuel is at the helm for the NL.

The All-Star Game will kick off at 8 p.m. ET highlighted by President Barack Obama's ceremonial first pitch to Pujols at the plate.