Written by
The Sports Network
PHOENIX -- Milwaukee first baseman Prince Fielder's go- ahead three-run homer in the fourth inning helped him win the MVP award for the 2011 MLB All-Star Game at Chase Field.
Fielder's homer was part of a 5-1 victory for the National League over the American League.
One year after breaking a 13-game winless streak, the NL has won back-to-back All-Star Games for the first time since taking three in a row from 1994-96.
It was a good night for Fielder and the Brewers organization. The big 27-year- old became the first Brewers player in history to homer in the Midsummer Classic and is the first All-Star MVP in franchise history. The last first baseman to be named MVP was in 1994 - Atlanta's Fred McGriff.
"It's real cool," Fielder said during a postgame ceremony for his MVP award. "I'm just happy I was able to be here, glad my kids are here with me too and my wife. It's been a great time."
The three-time All-Star selection, Fielder is having a great year. The left- handed hitter leads the NL with 72 RBI and 44 extra-base hits over 92 games. Not to mention, his 22 homers are tied for second-most in the NL.
Fielder's .297 batting average and .415 on-base percentage support his solid year thus far.
The 5-foot-11, 275-pounder could have the best season of his career if he keeps up this pace.
Fielder hit a franchise record 50 home runs in 2007, a year that he won the Silver Slugger Award. He also had 119 RBI that season.
His best year as far as batting average and runs batted in came in 2009, when he hit .299 with 141 RBI.
Fielder has spent his entire career in Milwaukee, which selected him in the first round of the 2002 draft. The Brewers signed Fielder to a one-year, $15.5 million in January to keep him in Milwaukee for one more season.
But could the big man land in a new city when the year ends?
"Last year I had no choice to come back because I had one more year," said Fielder. "It was emotional then in my last at-bat in Milwaukee so I can only imagine with me not having signed for next year at all it'll probably be a little more emotional. Hopefully we don't have to think about that until after we hold up the World Series trophy."
The Sports Network