Carl Crawford Smacks First All-Star Homer For The Devil Rays

SAN FRANCISCO - Barry Bonds was the story coming in, and rightfully so. This was his hometown, his moment, his All-Star Game at AT&T Park.

But the American League won again, extending its unbeaten streak to 11 years with a 5-4 victory in the House That Barry Built.

Bonds' big night sort of fizzled at the end of a couple of pedestrian fly outs. And instead of a McCovey Cove splashdown, the 78th All-Star Game was decided by the home run swings of two of the game's greatest speedsters - including Tampa Bay left fielder Carl Crawford.

In his first plate appearance after replacing Detroit's Magglio Ordonez in left, Crawford homered off Brewers closer Francisco Cordero to extend the AL's lead to 3-1 in the sixth.

'It's definitely one of the highlights of my career,' Crawford said. 'I don't know if I'll ever do that again. I definitely didn't see it coming. I stayed loose in the dugout hoping I'd get the chance to play. I got in the game way earlier than I thought I'd get in. All day was a surprise for me.'

That hit, the first All-Star home run by a Rays player, followed by an inning the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star Game history.

Game MVP Ichiro Suzuki (3-for-3) connected off San Diego's Chris Young, lifting a fly ball that bounced off the wall in right-center field and eluded the NL's Ken Griffey Jr. more than enough for AL third base coach Ron Washington to wave the Mariners speedster around.

Baltimore's Brian Roberts had walked ahead of Suzuki, and the AL took a 2-1 lead.

A sacrifice fly by Griffey in the bottom of the sixth trimmed the lead to 3-2. Cleveland's Victor Martinez later hit a two-run home run to provide the winning margin. The NL tacked on two runs in the ninth for the 5-4 final.

Crawford's homer came at the end of a tough at-bat.

After fouling off several pitches against Cordero, Crawford launched a drive toward right-center field. Griffey positioned himself to field the carom, but a fan caught the ball and it was ruled a home run immediately.

Crawford grounded out to shortstop in his second at-bat.

Crawford, 25, went 0-for-2 in his first All-Star Game, played in his hometown of Houston in 2004. He is the first two-time Rays All-Star.

Bonds was told beforehand by NL manager Tony La Russa he would make only two plate appearances. He flied out to right in his first and lifted a fly ball to the left-field warning track in the third.

He was roundly cheered by the partisan crowd from start to finish, but gladly shared the spotlight with fellow Giants icon - and Bonds' godfather - Willie Mays, who was honored before the game.

Bonds, with the Yankees' Derek Jeter, served as escort as Mays prepared to throw the ceremonial first pitch.

'That was outstanding to be able to do that and have the fans cheer,' Bonds said. 'I can't thank them enough. I cannot ever, ever thank them enough. I'll never forget it.'

The outcome assured that the World Series will begin in the American League stadium for the fifth time in the five years the All-Star Game has determined homefield advantage for the World Series.