MLB: National 8, American 0

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KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 10 (UPI) -- Pablo Sandoval hit a bases-loaded triple in the first inning Tuesday and the National League went on to rout the American League 8-0 in the 2012 All-Star Game.

The NL struck for five runs off AL starter Justin Verlander (0-1) of the Detroit Tigers in the first to put the game away early.

After Milwaukee's Ryan Braun drove in Melky Cabrera of the San Francisco Giants with a one-out RBI double, the Mets' Carlos Beltran and Buster Posey of the Giants drew walks to load the bases.

Verlander struck out Cincinnati's Joey Votto, but San Francisco's Sandoval followed by ripping a pitch into the right-field corner, scoring all three runners.

Sandoval then came home on an RBI hit from Atlanta's Dan Uggla to cap the big frame.

Cabrera -- who was named MVP -- added a two-run homer for the NL, which forged its biggest lead ever in an All-Star Game at 8-0 and logged its third straight win in the Mid-Summer Classic, securing home field advantage in the World Series.

San Francisco's Matt Cain (1-0) earned the victory with two scoreless frames as the NL posted the first All-Star Game shutout since 1996.

The AL could manage only six singles.