Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Justin Morneau scored on a walk-off sacrifice fly by Michael Young in the 15th inning on July 15, 2008, to give the American League a 4-3 victory in the fourth and last All-Star Game played in the old Yankee Stadium.
The win in the 79th All-Star Game was the 11th straight for the American League after the tie in the 2002 Mid-Summer Classic. The original Yankee Stadium had hosted previous All-Star Games in 1939, 1960 and 1977.
Young's sacrifice fly ended a four-hour and 50-minute marathon.
The National League took a 2-0 lead by scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, while their first three pitchers -- starter Ben Sheets of the Milwaukee Brewers, Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs and Dan Haren of the Arizona Diamondbacks -- each worked two scoreless innings.
Colorado Rockies right fielder Matt Holliday broke up the scoreless tie when he led off the top of the fifth with a home run off Ervin Santana of the Angels.
The National League widened its lead to 2-0 an inning later when Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez opened the inning with a single off Oakland's Justin Duchscherer, moved to third on a single by Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and scored on a sacrifice fly by Houston first baseman Lance Berkman.
The American League tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with one swing by Boston right fielder J.D. Drew. Minnesota first baseman Morneau opened the inning with a double off Edinson Volquez of the Cincinnati Reds, who retired the next two hitters. Then Drew connected on a two-run homer. Drew finished the game 2-for-4 and was named the All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player.
The teams both scored in the eighth.
The National League took a 3-2 lead in the top of the inning against Jonathan Papelbon of the Boston Red Sox.
Houston shortstop Miguel Tejada singled to open the inning. With one out, Tejada stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by American league catcher Dioner Navarro of Tampa Bay. Tejada scored on a sacrifice fly by the Padres' Adrian Gonzalez.
The American League tied the game in the bottom of the eighth against Billy Wagner of the New York Mets, who entered the game after Brian Wilson of the Giants retired the first two hitters in the inning.
Pinch-hitter Grady Sizemore of the Indians greeted Wagner with a single then stole second. Pinch-hitter Evan Longoria of Tampa Bay followed with a run-scoring, ground-rule double.
The game remained tied for the next six innings before Morneau opened the 15th with a single off Brad Lidge of the Phillies. Morneau moved to third on a single by Navarro and scored the winning run on a one-out fly to right by Texas shortstop Young.
Drew and Morneau, who also won the Home Run Derby on the eve of the All-Star Game, each had two of the American League's 14 hits. Each had a hand in two of the American League's four runs. Ramirez and Tejada each had two hits and scored a run for the National League.
Despite allowing four hits and three walks, Aaron Cook of the Rockies pitched three scoreless innings for the National League during the overtime innings. George Sherrill of Baltimore pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the American League while Mariano Rivera of the Yankees and Joakim Soria of the Kansas City Royals each worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings during the extra innings.
Gonzalez was the Padres' lone player representative in the All-Star Game, and went 1-for-3, plus his sacrifice fly. Padres manager Bud Black was a coach on the National League team.