The American League's 4-3 victory in 15 innings actually was the strongest case yet for attaching stakes to the game, specifically home-field advantage for the World Series. The game was intensely competitive and highly entertaining. As AL manager Terry Francona noted, "every player was on the top step," as opposed to on the first flight home.

Francona, though, knew how close he came to being placed in an impossible position. The Rays had told Francona that they preferred left-hander Scott Kazmir not to pitch -- Kazmir had thrown 104 pitches Sunday and had an elbow injury early in the season. But by the 15th inning, Francona had used every other one of his pitchers.

In his effort to avoid Kazmir, Francona extended Orioles closer George Sherrill for 2 1/3 innings -- the lefty's longest stint since July 20, 2004, the fourth outing of his major-league career. Sherrill also had warmed up in the sixth. Not to be outdone, Phillies closer Brad Lidge, the eventual losing pitcher for the NL, said he warmed up six or seven times -- "definitely a personal record."

By the end, the NL staff also was depleted, even though manager Clint Hurdle used each of his first three pitchers -- Ben Sheets, Carlos Zambrano and Dan Haren -- for two innings and Aaron Cook, his own man with the Rockies, for the 10th, 11th and 12th. Diamondbacks righty Brandon Webb, whom Hurdle wanted to avoid, worked the 14th despite throwing 108 pitches Sunday. Giants righty Tim Lincecum, who also had pitched Sunday, was unavailable due to flu-like symptoms and dehydration.

Not every starting pitcher who worked Sunday needed to be handled with care. Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster pitched the ninth -- and struck out the side -- coming off a 118-pitch effort. Still, this was the second time in seven years that the All-Star Game went extra innings, and additional precautions are required. While it was fun to imagine Rays third baseman Evan Longoria following Kazmir to the mound ("good curveball," was Kaz's scouting report), the possibility of a pitcher being put in physical jeopardy by an All-Star appearance was no laughing matter.

"You wait a lot of years to do something like this," Francona said of managing an All-Star team, "but the last two hours weren't a whole lot of fun. I was very nervous. I was actually more nervous before the game than I ever thought I would be. It was great to be part of something special. But later on, panic started to set in."

Which is why alternate pitchers should be the next step. We're not talking about expanding the roster from 32 players. We're just talking about common sense. If it isn't in the best interests of a Kazmir or Webb to pitch in the All-Star Game, then they shouldn't pitch. Yes, clubs might need to pay one or two more All-Star bonuses to the alternates, but that would be a small sacrifice for preserving their top pitchers' arms.

The truth is, the game came within inches of going to the 16th inning. With the bases loaded and one out in the 15th, the Rangers' Michael Young lofted a fly ball to right field. The Brewers' Corey Hart settled under it, and the Twins' Justin Morneau took off from third. The race was on.

Morneau joked about his lack of speed afterward, saying, "it always feels like it takes me forever" to get from one base to another. He wanted to get a good jump, but also had to make sure he didn't leave early. Hart's throw was up the line, forcing Braves catcher Brian McCann to adjust.

"It was very, very close," Morneau said. "I thought I was out until I saw him reach across for the ball. My foot just barely got in there. At that point, the game was 5-1/2 hours old. My legs were not exactly feeling good. But I had just enough left in the tank."

Not many others did.

Kazmir, who threw only 14 pitches to earn the win, said he could have pitched at least one more inning, maybe more. Francona, however, never would have put him in such jeopardy. Jimmie Lee Solomon, Major League Baseball's executive vice-president of baseball operations, checked in with Francona in the dugout at one point. Francona asked him if he could pitch.

Hurdle said he maybe could have coaxed one more inning out of Lidge. But he was about ready to enlist Mets third baseman David Wright, whom he named to the team as a last-minute replacement for the injured Alfonso Soriano, as his next hard-throwing righty.

"Have you ever pitched in an All-Star Game?" Hurdle asked Wright, who had entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the eight inning. "You wanted to be in this thing. That's all I've read. That's all I've heard. You won't believe how much you're going to be in it, real quick."

According to Hurdle, Wright replied, "Let's go."

Mercifully, Wright wasn't needed to pitch. Nor was any other position player. The game featured plenty of other memorable moments.

Home runs by the Rockies' Matt Holliday and Red Sox's J.D. Drew. A terrific 4-6-3 double play by the Rangers' Ian Kinsler and Michael Young that bailed Yankees closer Mariano Rivera out of a first-and-third, one-out jam in the 10th. Eventful relief appearances by the Reds' Edinson Volquez (blown save), the Mets' Billy Wagner (blown save) and, of course, the Red Sox's Jonathan Papelbon (unearned run allowed to break a tie in the eighth with the crowd chanting, "Mari-ano! Mari-ano!")

Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman made his first career appearance at third base and forced out a runner at the plate. Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla made three errors after entering the game in the sixth inning, struck out three times and grounded into a double play.

The game was full of such fascinating gems, but the drama at the end was a little too uncomfortable. Heaven knows how home-field advantage for the Series would have been decided if the game had ended in a tie. MLB mercifully skirted the issue, but the next step is to ensure that it never gets raised again. Alternate pitchers, please. Controlled fun.