MVP Brian McCann Perfect Teammate to Help NL Snap Streak

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- One of the delicious little quirks of All-Star Games is that players and managers get a chance to finally be on the good side of those who have brought them such heartbreak.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel had seen far too much of Braves catcher Brian McCann in their National League East duels.

"Absolutely kills us," Manuel said.

For one night, though, McCann's clutch-hitting abilities worked in favor of Manuel and every other player in the National League, as he ripped a two-out, three-run double in the seventh inning, earning the MVP of the National League's streak-snapping 3-1 All-Star Game victory.

After Manuel watched McCann just miss a first-pitch fastball from flame-throwing lefty Matt Thornton, he turned to his fellow managers Bruce Bochy and Bud Black and provided a little scouting report.

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"I said 'I hope he keeps the ball down and hard, because this guy can light him up,'" Manuel said. "He threw him a low fastball, and he clocked him."

McCann spun on a 98 mph fastball from a guy who has allowed lefties to hit just .172 this year. Thornton had allowed only three extra-base hits to lefties all season.

"Thornton has got one of the best left-handed fastballs in the game," McCann said. "You know, I sat on the fastball and tried to get my hands going a little early, and I got a pitch to handle, and luckily I didn't miss it."

McCann had missed in a similar spot, with runners at first and third and two outs in the fifth. Justin Verlander got him to fly out to deep right. That was McCann's fourth All-Star Game at-bat in five years, and he had come up hitless.

No matter.



Share Braves second baseman Martin Prado, who had started the game and was in the clubhouse, said he had a good feeling that McCann was due when he got another shot in the seventh.

"He's one of my best teammates with the Braves," Prado said. "We always talk about hitting. ... He's got that kind of approach to just hit the ball hard. I'm not going to tell you I knew he was going to hit a double, but he's one of those guys. He's a free-swinger. He's a contact guy. I'm so happy for him. He deserves it. He's a great guy."

Braves righty Tim Hudson, who didn't get into the game, called McCann "one of my favorite teammates I ever had." Hudson is partial to a player who has been his everyday catcher for most of his time in Atlanta, but he also appreciates McCann for his career .296 average with runners in scoring position. He's got a .311 average when the game is tied.

"You always expect him to come through in a situation like that," Hudson said. "Tough lefty. Bases loaded. He just put a good at-bat on it. Put some head on it. That's the game right there."

Marlins righty Josh Johnson had seen it plenty of times from the other dugout.

"That's a guy you don't want to see at the plate as the opposing team," Johnson said. "I love it when he's on my team now."

McCann did a favor for every player in the National League because now the NL will have home-field advantage in the World Series for the first time since the All-Star Game was used to determine it. That actually means a little something to McCann,since the Braves are in first place in the NL East heading into the second half of the season.

"You think about it more when you're sitting in that position instead of coming here 10 games out, 12 games out," McCann said. "Home-field advantage is exactly that. It's a home-field advantage."