ANAHEIM, CA - Jeff Kent and Jose Hernandez (left) touched them all as the NORTH All Stars topped the SOUTH All Stars by a score of 5 to 4 in the 8th annual mid-summer classic. In a season where only 1 of their 7 teams is over .500, the Northern Division can nevertheless boast that it now holds a 5 games to 4 all-time lead in All Star competition.

Kent, whose 28 homeruns and 76 RBIs lead the C12 at the break, launched a solo shot with 2 outs in the 3rd inning to tie the score at 3. However the deciding blow for the NORTH came in the 7th inning. The key at-bat was by the pinch hitting Hernandez, who electrified Edison International Field when he blasted a two-run dinger that proved to be the game-winner. SOUTH made it exciting in the 9th when Barry Bonds strode to the plate representing the winning run with 1 out, but closer Robb Nen was able to get Bonds to ground into a force play before getting the final out.

Brian Boehringer went 2/3 of an inning allowing no runs for the win and Nen gained credit for the save. Guillermo Mota was the loser in relief. For his deciding blast, Hernandez was named the All Star Game MVP.