Cutch, Cole lead way for Bucs in All-Star Game

With his solo home run in the sixth inning Tuesday night, Andrew McCutchen joined an elite group of Pirates All-Stars.

Leading off the bottom of the sixth against Rays right-hander Chris Archer, McCutchen launched a first-pitch slider into the left-field seats at Great American Ball Park. That cut the American League's lead to just one run in the All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile, but the National League wound up taking a 6-3 loss.

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"I enjoyed playing in it and being a part of it," said McCutchen, who started in center field and hit leadoff for the NL squad.

It was the first All-Star Game home run for McCutchen, making his fifth trip to the Midsummer Classic. It also put McCutchen in good company with a few other Pittsburgh legends.

The last four Pirates to homer in an All-Star Game were Dave Parker (1981), Roberto Clemente (1971), Willie Stargell (1965) and Ralph Kiner (1949-51).

The only other Pirates to go deep in an All-Star Game are Vince DiMaggio (1943) and Arky Vaughan, who did so twice in 1941.

McCutchen kept busy with a familiar face on the mound in the top of the third inning. Making his first All-Star Game appearance, right-hander Gerrit Cole induced two flyouts to center field.

Video: 2015 ASG: Cole strikes out Trout swinging in the 3rd

In between those two outs, Cole showed off the arsenal that helped him record a Major League-leading 13 wins in the first half.

Angels star Mike Trout, the game's MVP, worked a 1-2 count. Cole unleashed a devastating curveball that dived down and away from Trout, who flailed helplessly at the pitch to give Cole his first All-Star Game strikeout.

"The first couple pitches, I was like, 'Oh my gosh, how am I going to get the ball over the plate?'" Cole said. "It was fun. I haven't been nervous like that in a really really long time. It was pretty cool."

Right-hander A.J. Burnett didn't pitch in his first Midsummer Classic during what he's said will be his final season. But Burnett said the All-Star experience was memorable enough even without taking the mound.

Video: 2015 ASG: Melancon strikes out Gardner looking

"I don't know how good I would have been at 11 o'clock at night. Being here is enough for me," Burnett said. "No regrets. We made it. I'm here. Kids had a great time. I had a great time."

Pirates closer Mark Melancon struck out two former teammates -- Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner and Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin -- before serving up a homer to Twins second baseman Brian Dozier in the eighth inning.

The matchup with Martin, the former Pirates catcher, was particularly meaningful for Melancon.

"It was just a special moment, really. I'm glad we had that opportunity and that I got to face him. It was cool," Melancon said. "I wanted to smile while I was up there. This was so surreal. It's a blast, and the outcome was good for me."