Washington Nationals' All-Stars play but N.L. stars lose home-field advantage with 4-2 loss

If the Washington Nationals represent the National League in the 2016 World Series, even if they were to have the best record in the game, they would not enjoy home-field advantage.

Led by a pair of Kansas City Royals -- the defending World Champs -- the American League beat the N.L. 4-2 in the 87th All-Star Game at Petco Park in San Diego to secure the home field for the A.L. once again.

The American League has now won four straight midsummer classics.

Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez both homered as part of a three-run second inning off N.L. and Giants' starter Johnny Cueto, and Hosmer added an RBI single in the third off the Marlins' Jose Fernandez.

Hosmer was named MVP of the game.

The Cubs' Kris Bryant continued his awesome season, homering off the White Sox' Chris Sale in the first inning -- a solo shot -- and Marcell Ozuna singled to drive in Buster Posey in the fourth to make it 4-2. From there, the bullpens took over and halted the scoring.

All four Nationals that dressed played.

Bryce Harper, voted as a starter in the outfield, went 1 for 2, hitting a double off old nemesis Cole Hamels in the third inning, but Bryant struck out to leave Harper stranded.

Daniel Murphy came on for starter Ben Zobrist at second base in the fifth inning and went 2 for 3 and reached on an error. Murphy led off the ninth with a single off the Orioles' Zach Britton, but Paul Goldschmidt forced Murphy with a grounder to Britton, then Nolan Arenado grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the game. Murphy also singled in the seventh off the Yankees' Dellin Betances, but Goldschmidt flied out and Arenado struck out to end any threat.

Wilson Ramos struck out to end the fifth inning with runners at second and third.

Max Scherzer pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning. He got Hosmer to ground out to second, Carlos Beltran flied out to center and Scherzer ended his appearance with a strikeout of Baltimore's Matt Wieters.

Corey Kluber of the Indians was awarded the win and Britton earned the save, while Cueto was saddled with the loss.