N.L. wins as Thornton surrenders lead
The National League won its first All-Star Game since 1996 and Chicago's two new All-Stars were right in the middle of the action.
Unfortunately for White Sox reliever Matt Thornton, it wasn't the kind of All-Star debut he was hoping to make.
Thornton entered the game in the seventh inning with runners at first and third and no outs with the American League clinging to a 1-0 lead. After getting former White Sox prospect Chris Young to pop out to teammate Paul Konerko, Thornton walked Cubs' outfielder Marlon Byrd and then gave up a bases clearing double to Braves catcher Brian McCann, giving the National League a 3-1 lead it would never relinguish.
Byrd was the first Chicago All-Star to see action as he entered the game in centerfield in the sixth inning. He made a key play in the ninth inning as he threw out David Ortiz at second base on John Buck's single. It was the second out of the inning and prevented the tying run from reaching base.
Paul Konerko entered the game in the sixth inning and went 0-for-2 at the plate.
