It's hard to go with Livan Hernandez's 2005 All-Star Game performance, which saw the then-30-year-old Washington Nationals' right-hander walk Red Sox' catcher Jason Varitek before surrendering a ground-rule double to the Orioles' Brian Roberts and a two-run single to the Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki to put the NL down 5-0 to the American League after four innings in Comerica Park in Detroit. Chad Cordero replaced the Padres' pitcher Jake Peavy on the mound with two down in the the bottom of the eighth in the '05 ASG, striking Pudge Rodriguez out to keep the National League within four at 7-3 in a game that ended 7-5 in the AL's favor...
Tonight, the stars align on @MLBONFOX: https://t.co/eTP1fOEqY7 #ASG
— #ASG (@MLB) July 15, 2014
Alfonso Soriano started in left field for the National League in 2006's Mid-Summer Classic in Pittsburgh's PNC Park. The Nats' reluctant outfielder was 1 for 2, swinging at the first pitch (predictably) and flying out when he faced then-Tigers' left-hander Kenny Rogers, aka The Gambler. The second time up, Soriano singled on a liner to left against then-Blue Jays' ace Roy Halladay, then stole second and was thrown out by Vernon Wells trying to score on a one-out line drive single to center by Carlos Beltran.
In 2007 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Dmitri "DY" Young represented the Nationals, singling in his only at bat, a pinch hit appearance in the eighth, and scoring on a two-out run HR by Soriano, who'd left D.C. to sign with the Chicago Cubs after the '06 season.
Hello, Minnesota! #Nats All-Star RHP @TylerClippard enjoyed a moment during the #ASG media availability today: pic.twitter.com/m7hM0Hb0Kt
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 14, 2014
Cristian Guzman came on as a pinch runner in the ninth inning of the '08 MLB All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium in New York. Guzman replaced Aramis Ramirez after then-Angels' closer Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez issued a leadoff walk, but the Nats' SS was caught stealing one out later on an inning-ending strike'em out, throw'em out double play in what was then a tie game. Guzman would stay in the game for six more innings until it was decided on a sac fly in the 15th. Guzman ended the night 0 for 3 with a flyout, failed bunt attempt and a groundout to first.
Ryan Zimmerman flew out to St. Louis' Busch Stadium II in 2009, where he entered the game as a defensive replacement in the fifth, and went 0-2 in 2 in two at bats, flying out to center when he faced then-Rays' right-hander Edwin Jackson in the fifth and flying to right on the first pitch from the Twins' Joe Nathan in the bottom of the eighth.
#Nats are honored to be represented by Jordan Zimmermann & Tyler Clippard @ #ASG! Zimmermann got his jersey this wk. pic.twitter.com/C6x3bQMt2U
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 13, 2014
2010 Nats' All-Star Matt Capps came on to face Boston's left-handed slugger David Ortiz in the bottom of the sixth inning in Angel Stadium of Anaheim and the Nats' right-handed closer started down 0-2 to the Red Sox' first baseman/DH, then caught the outside edge with 94mph heat for a called strike that made it 1-2. Ortiz fouled off a 1-2 pitch from Capps, who then shook off three pitches called for by Braves' backstop Brian McCann, and threw a 2-2 two-seamer inside under Big Papi's arms for a called strike three and the end of the sixth to keep the NL close, down 1-0 in what ended up a 3-1 National League victory, with Capps earning the W when the NL went up a half-inning after he'd pitched for the NL's first All-Star Game win since 1996.
In 2011 Tyler Clippard represented the Nationals as the lone Nats' All-Star in the Midsummer Classic which was played in Arizona's Chase Field. The Nats' right-handed reliever took the mound with two on and two out in the fourth and gave up a single to left by Adrian Beltre, but Jose Bautista was thrown out at home trying to score from second and when the National League scored three runs on a Prince Fielder home run in the bottom of the inning he was still the pitcher of record and he ended up earning the win.
Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez all saw action in the 2012 All-Star Game in Kansas City's Kaufmann Stadium. Gonzalez threw a scoreless 11-pitch frame in the third, retiring Mike Napoli, Curtis Granderson and Derek Jeter in order. Strasburg threw a scoreless 17-pitch fourth, giving up a single by Robinson Cano but getting Josh Hamilton to ground into a double play. A two-out walk to Jose Bautista put a runner on in front of Prince Fielder, but a Fielder line drive to left was caught for the final out of the inning. Harper drew a walk from the Angels' Jered Weaver in his first All-Star at bat, took the field in left and K'd looking in his second at bat in what ended up an 8-0 NL win... and he also lost a pop to left in an slightly embarrassing play in the outfield.
Harper started in center in 2013 when the All-Star Game took place in Citi Field. Jordan Zimmermann decided against pitching in the Midsummer Classic so he could rest a neck injury and prepare for the second half, so Harper was the only National to take the field for the National League in their 3-0 loss to the American League. The Nats' 2010 no.1 overall pick lined out to third in his first at bat, and popped up to short the second time up...
Congrats to #Nats RHP @TylerClippard, who has been named to the NL All-Star team! http://t.co/DlHTa9JcFA pic.twitter.com/1byPy0x2FO
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 13, 2014
So which Nats' All-Star put in the best performance? Matt Capps' big K. Guzman's extra inning effort? Chad Cordero striking out Pudge? Livan Hernandez getting hit hard and giving up two runs? Ryan Zimmerman's 0 for 2? Dmitri Young's pinch hit? Alfonso Soriano's 1 for 2 in 2006? Tyler Clippard's ASG W in 2011? Harper, Gio or Strasburg in KC 2012? Harper's 0 for 2 in NY? Vote Below.