MLB All-Star Game: National League 8, American League 0

The AL was shut out in a listless snoozefest.

The Texas Rangers sent eight players to the 2012 MLB All-Star game Tuesday night in Kansas City but came away with yet another loss in a 8-0 drubbing at the hands of the National League. It was the NL's third straight win in the annual series, and first shutout since 1996.

Photo not provided by the San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers

Pictured: Giants pitcher Matt Cain delivers the death-blow to Rangers fans' hopes of home-field advantage.

The AL was doomed from the start, as Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander served up five runs in the first inning. Verlander, who had a half-dozen pitches clocked at 100 mph, allowed four hits and walked two in an effort that cost the AL home-field advantage in the World Series for the third straight year.

In the previous two years, the Rangers were the ones who suffered, and just like last year's All-Star game where former Ranger C.J. Wilson was the losing pitcher, the eight Texas players have only themselves to blame.

Matt Harrison was the second-worst pitcher in the game behind Verlander, allowing three runs, including a two-run shot by Melky Cabrera, in a disastrous fourth inning that essentially iced the game.

The Rangers' hitters were as ineffective as usual lately, combining to go 1-for-9. Starters Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre both went 0-for-2, while Mike Napoli actually got one of the AL's six harmless singles in the game. Elvis Andrus went 0-for-1 late in the game, while pitchers Joe Nathan threw a scoreless second and Yu Darvish did not get a chance to pitch in the game.