Braves’ Brian McCann savors All-Star moment

Brian McCann said this moment ranked up there with hitting a home run against Roger Clemens in the playoffs as a rookie.

“It’s a moment I’ll never forget,” the Atlanta Braves catcher said. “You dream about stuff like this. It’s not supposed to happen.”

What happened was that McCann pulled a 98-mph fastball by Chicago White Sox reliever Matt Thornton, sent a line-drive double into right field to clear the bases and drive in all three runs the National League would score in a 3-1 victory over the American League in the All-Star game Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.

The NL’s 13-game winless streak was over.

McCann had played in four All-Star games. He was the catcher in 2008 when Justin Morneau slid home in the 15th inning to give a one-run victory to the AL.

“Completely different,” McCann said. “You’re on one side of it then, now you’re on the other side.”

The last time the NL had won the All-Star game, in 1996, a catcher also was selected most valuable player of the game — Mike Piazza of the Dodgers.

“One of my idols growing up,” McCann said.

McCann was asked by the Hall of Fame for his bat.

“I was thrilled they wanted it,” he said.

And he was thrilled because of what the victory could mean for his team in October.

The Braves have the best record in the NL. Of the three division leaders, they have the largest lead at four games.

And should the Braves advance to the World Series, they will have home-field advantage.

“You’re not thinking about it when you’re playing,” McCann said. “But now that I get to sit back and reflect, I’m excited. We have a pretty good team.”

A pretty good team with added motivation. Manager Bobby Cox will retire at the end of the season. Third baseman Chipper Jones is expected to do so, too.

Home-field advantage was the talk of the NL clubhouse.

NL Manager Charlie Manuel told the players after the game, “Someone in here’s going to take advantage of this.”

“It’ll give us an upper hand if we make it,” Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier said.

Heath Bell, the closer for the NL West-leading San Diego Padres, said he was jokingly threatened with physical violence by pitching coach Darren Balsley if he didn’t return with a victory.

The ever-personable Bell wanted some of the credit for McCann’s big hit.

Having pitched in the fifth inning, Bell was in the clubhouse in the seventh. He tried to watch the game on the 3D television, but couldn’t get the set to function. So he went back to the dugout with the 3D television glasses still covering his eyes.

“Rally shades,” Bell said.

When McCann’s line drive hit the ground in right field, the players standing along the railing in the NL dugout jumped and pumped their fists.

McCann’s only regret was that his wife, Ashley, couldn’t be in Anaheim with him. She couldn’t fly because she is pregnant.

Being in the spotlight had its drawbacks.

Standing in front of his locker after the game, McCann looked forward, smiled and answered every question. But he continually twisted the belt he held in his hands.

McCann wanted to leave. Actually, it wasn’t so much that he wanted to leave. He had to leave.

“I’ve got to catch a flight,” he said.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com