The Detroit Tigers once again represented well at the All-Star Game -- and hope it works to their advantage if they reach the World Series.
Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer and Ian Kinsler all played at Minnesota's Target Field in Tuesday night's 5-3 American League win over the National League.
It was Cabrera's ninth All-Star appearance, Scherzer's second and Kinsler's fourth.
Victor Martinez attended the festivities and the game but did not play due to the side/back soreness that kept him out of games before the break.
Cabrera, who had just 14 home runs at the break, hit a two-run home run off of St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright in the first inning to increase the AL's lead to 3-0.
It was Cabrera's first home run in an All-Star Game and the first by a Tiger since Lou Whitaker hit one off of Dwight Gooden in 1986.
"This is expected," Scherzer told MLB Network after the game. "I don't care who you are. You can be one of the best in the league. If you throw Miguel Cabrera a fastball in, he will do damage. We got to see it tonight."
That was also the last time a Tiger had a multi-RBI All-Star Game. Cabrera is the 10th Tiger to do so.
It was also the first home run that Wainwright had allowed since May 30.
"I feel good," Cabrera told reporters in Minneapolis as he left the clubhouse holding a fishing pole.
Cabrera lined out to short and flew out to center field in his other two at-bats.
Scherzer, who started the All-Star Game last season, pitched a scoreless fifth inning and struck out two to earn the victory. The strikeout victims were Los Angeles' Yasiel Puig and Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt.
"They kind of scripted it out that I was going to throw the fifth because righty, lefty, righty, lefty," Scherzer said. "I was scheduled for the fifth and sure enough, when you pitch the fifth you have a chance for the win. Sure enough, the chips fell and we were able to scratch across a few runs in the fifth and I was able to pick up the 'W'."
Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki got the only hit off of Scherzer, a double.
Scherzer threw 18 pitches, 11 for strikes. He is the first Tiger to win an All-Star Game since Jim Bunning did so in 1957.
As exciting as it was, Scherzer said he's experienced a little more on other occasions.
"I had some adrenaline going but it's nothing like postseason," Scherzer said. "The postseason is on a whole different level just because that means everything to your season. This is such a spectacle and it's such an amazing experience because you're playing with the best and you're going against the best. It's something you'll never forget when you play in one of these things."
Kinsler hit for Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve with two out in the seventh inning, facing Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel and struck out.
However, Kinsler fielded Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon's grounder for the final out of the game.
Despite going 2-for-2, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter did not win the Most Valuable Player award. Jeter, who lived in Kalamazoo, Mich., as a child, is retiring after the season.
That went to Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who drove in the first run in the first with a triple and the game-winner in the fifth with a double.
"It's pretty special just to be a part of his night," Trout told FOX Sports' Erin Andrews on the field. "Growing up, him being my role model, his last All-Star Game, it's pretty special."
Although Jeter and Trout got most of the attention, it was a special night for the Tigers, too.
"Let's draw it up just like that, exactly. Derek hits the inside-out, down-the-line double, Trout triple, that's odd, and then Miggy bomb. Somehow I find a way to get a win. We're all gravy."
