After a lull in 2023, the American League is back to doing what it almost always does at the MLB All-Star Game: convincingly beating the National League.
Thanks to big hits from New York Yankees slugger Juan Soto, Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran and Cleveland Guardians star David Fry, the AL beat the NL 5-3 at Globe Life Field on Tuesday. After losing last year’s All-Star Game, the AL has now won 10 of the last 11 Midsummer Classics and 22 of the last 27.
Duran won the All-Star Game MVP award for his efforts, including his game-winning home run. He is the first Red Sox member to win the award since J.D. Drew in 2008.
However, it was the National League that struck first and hardest in a game where both teams wore widely criticized uniforms.
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, playing for the National League for the first time after leaving the Los Angeles Angels, smashed a three-run home run in the third inning for his first All-Star Game home run and the Dodgers’ first since Mike Piazza in 1996.
The American League responded quickly. Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien singled to lead off the bottom of the third, followed by a walk by Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians. Soto, another star who switched leagues this offseason, then doubled to cut the deficit to one, followed by a pinch-hitter single by Fry to tie the game.
The deciding runs came in the fifth inning, when Duran hit Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene for a two-run home run.
The AL played with fire the rest of the game, especially when the Kansas City Royals’ Seth Lugo allowed two runners on base, one of them Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz, in the seventh inning, but the bullpen held firm.
The most dominant performance of the night came from the Oakland Athletics’ Mason Miller, who took the mound in the fifth inning and began to wreak havoc. After getting Ketel Marte out with a fly out, he retired Ohtani on four pitches, the last a slider that wiped out the opponents, then threw the fastest pitch ever measured by Statcast in an All-Star Game to Trea Turner, who then struck out three times.
With the win, Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy joined Tony La Russa as the only managers to have won the All-Star Game on both sides. by Elias Sports Bureau.
The AL’s victory capped an All-Star week filled with headlines, including Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana becoming the first Australian player selected first overall in the MLB draft and Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández winning the Home Run Derby after a bizarre national anthem that Ingrid Andress later said she sang while intoxicated.
Here’s how the entire game unfolded, with live commentary from Yahoo Sports:
Live56 updates
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AL wins 5-3, shuts down NL batters for final 6 innings
Shohei Ohtani got the party started with a three-run home run in the third inning, but Jarren Duran’s bat was the difference in the game. The Red Sox outfielder broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run home run in the fifth inning for a 5-3 AL lead that served as the final score. Duran was named MVP for his effort (1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI).
American League pitchers held the National League off the board for the final six innings, with Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase closing out the ninth with a strikeout of Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds. The American League has now won 10 of the last 11 All-Star Games.
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Tanner Scott, Jeff Hoffman team up to keep American League off the board in 8th inning
Tanner Scott struck out two batters and Jeff Hoffman came in to provide the final out of the bottom of the eighth inning for the NL. Hoffman and Kyle Finnegan are the only NL pitchers left as the AL leads 5-3 heading into the ninth inning.
Pete Alonso is the first to play as the National League looks to take the game to extra time.
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Kirby Yates sits in front of the home fans
Rangers closer Kirby Yates did the job effectively in the top of the eighth inning, resting three NL batters on 10 pitches. The AL led 5-3 after the eighth inning.
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National League manager Torey Lovullo has pledged to use all of his pitchers, apparently
Robert Suarez leaves the league after two outs and is replaced by Matt Strahm of the Phillies. The National League still has three pitchers after him: Kyle Finnegan, Jeff Hoffman and Tanner Scott.
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Seth Lugo Calls on Marcell Ozuna to End Threat
With two runners on base, including baseball’s fastest man at second base, Seth Lugo forced Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna into an easy grounder to protect the American League’s 5-3 lead. Padres reliever Robert Suarez came in to keep the game close in the National League.
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Elly De La Cruz thought about trying a double
The Reds phenom hit a scorching single and definitely thought about going for a two-run shot, but Jarren Duran made a clean play in center field to discourage him.
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Reynaldo Lopez outclasses Salvador Perez to end the round
We’ll see if he’ll be back on the field in the seventh inning. Meanwhile, the Royals’ Seth Lugo will take over for the AL.
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A pitcher change in the middle of the inning!
Sánchez gets Isaac Paredes and Josh Naylor on one pitch each, and now National League manager Torey Lovullo replaces him with Reynaldo López.
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Freddie Freeman arrested after match replay
The umpires rule that Naylor’s foot (assisted by Freeman) touched the bag before Freeman did, and it doesn’t matter that Naylor was blocking his path. We go to the bottom of the sixth inning, with Christopher Sánchez of the Phillies pitching for the National League.
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Controversial!
Freddie Freeman hits into what should have been an inning-ending double play, but it appears Josh Naylor’s foot got in the way as he reached first base. Now we have an All-Star Game replay review challenge.
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Bryce Harper almost got a run back for the National League
He hit a fly ball to the opposite field that died on the warning track. By the way, it’s the sixth inning and the National League still has its starters, while Alphabet has completely changed its lineup. Some fans will like it, some won’t.
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Manager Bruce Bochy gets it. Royals left-hander Cole Ragans comes in, as do teammates Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez.
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) July 17, 2024
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It’s the Red Sox’ first All-Star home run since Adrian Gonzalez in 2011.
— Gabrielle Starr (@gfstarr1) July 17, 2024
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Jarren Duran breaks tie with two-run home run, AL leads 5-3
Anthony Santander followed Seager’s near-hit with a single, then Jarren Duran continued a dream season with a 413-foot home run. The AL scored five unanswered runs.
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Corey Seager is just yards away from a solo home run
Facing Reds star Hunter Greene, the reigning World Series MVP hit a home run into the stands of his home stadium, then hit another fly ball toward the warning track (home run in 17 of 30 MLB stadiums). You could say Globe Life Field wanted this one.
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Mason Miller throws fastest pitch in All-Star Game history (as measured by Statcast)
The A’s flamethrower hit 104 mph (OK, 103.6 according to Statcast) to beat Trea Turner and end the fifth inning. It’s the fastest pitch ever measured by Statcast in the All-Star Game.
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Mason Miller comes from Mason Miller’d Shohei Ohtani
The most powerful pitcher in the major leagues just made a fool of Ohtani. The sequence: 100.6 mph fastball, 88.7 mph slider, 101.8 mph fastball, 89.2 mph slider. It was really mean.