Minnesota Twins 2B Brian Dozier Hits Home Run in MLB All-Star Game

Late last week, Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier had plans on spending his All-Star break at a lake house with his wife. Those plans changed when Dozier was picked to replace the Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista on the American League roster.

In his first ever All-Star game at bat, Dozier hit a solo home run to center field off of Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Mark Melancon to give the American League a 6-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning.

Twins reliever Glenn Perkins came in in the bottom of the ninth inning to help secure the American League's win, though he did give up one run. The AL ended up winning 6-3. This was the second year in a row that Perkins closed the game for the AL.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's Mike Trout started things off with a bang, hitting a home run off of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke during the first at bat of the game to give the American League a 1-0 lead early.

The Texas Rangers' Prince Fielder, Baltimore Orioles' Manny Machado, and Kansas City Royals' Lorenzo Cain all added RBIs for the American League.

The National League was led by the Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen, who hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

With their win, the American League will have home field advantage in this year's World Series.

[ESPN]