His two-run triple rallied the American League to a 3-2 win.

His two-run triple ralliedthe American Leagueto a 3-2 win.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- Amid a galaxy of baseball stars, the memory of a much beloved hero helped salve the pain of a ninth-inning meltdown and yet another All-Star Game loss for the National League.
Before the fifth inning of the American League's 3-2 victory Tuesday at PNC Park, Major League Baseball interrupted play to pay tribute to Roberto Clemente.
The presentation of the ninth Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award had tears flowing throughout the 6-year-old ballpark.
With the NL one out away from a 2-1 victory, the Rangers' Michael Young connected for a two-run triple to engineer the American League's victory.
"All I'm thinking then is [making] contact," said Young, the Most Valuable Player who said he had guessed correctly when he fouled off a fastball and changeup.
"At that point, thinking was doing me no good," Young said.
AL manager Ozzie Guillen said Young was his first selection when he was pick reserves.
"This kid is one of the best players in baseball right now," Guillen said.
For the fourth straight season, the AL, which hasn't lost an All-Star game in 10 seasons, earned home-field advantage for its league champion in October's World Series.
Temporary lead
Until Padres' closer Trevor Hoffman's meltdown in the ninth inning, things had been going perfectly for the NL after Phil Garner's club manufactured their second run in the third inning.
With one out, the Mets' Carlos Beltran singled to center with the Nationals' Alfonso Soriano on second base.
Soriano ran a dare on Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells and paid the price as Wells' throw and Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez's block of home plate resulted in the second out.
On the throw, Beltran took second. He then stole third base with the Cardinals' Albert Pujols batting. When Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay uncorked a wild pitch, Beltran scored easily for the 2-1 lead.
"He's an outstanding closer," said Garner of Hoffman. "It's an unfortunate hit."
Strong hometown showing
Hometown heroes added to the glitter. Right-field starter Jason Bay singled in the fourth inning and caught a sinking liner off the bat of the Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki to end the third inning.
And Freddy Sanchez took over at shortstop in the fifth inning and made an extreme leap to stab a hard shot off the bat of the Red Sox's Mark Loretta.
But the moment none of the 38,904 in attendance will forget was when Selig presented Clemente's widow, Vera, with the historic honor.
"Roberto made an enormous historical impact on the game of baseball," Selig said. "He was a legend in America and around the world."
Clemente, the right fielder who helped lead the Pirates to world championships in 1960 and 1971, was killed in a plane crash on Dec. 31, 1972 while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
"I want you to know that Roberto still loves you from heaven," said Mrs. Clemente, who was escorted by Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski.
Early highlights
With 38,904 fans lookling on, NL starter Brad Penny (Dodgers) was brilliant, whiffing Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners), Derek Jeter (Yankees) and David Ortiz (Red Sox).
But in the second inning, Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero homered into the second row of the right-field stands for the AL's 1-0 lead.
But the Mets' David Wright, the runner-up in Monday's Home Run Derby, tied the game with a homer into the left-field porch.
Indians center-fielder Grady Sizemore entered the game in the fifth inning and caught a ball on the warning track hit by Pujols.
williams@vindy.com