SEATTLE (AP) Elias Díaz hit a two-run home run against Félix Bautista in the eighth inning, and the National League ended a nine-game losing streak in the All-Star Game Tuesday night with a 3-2 win over the American League.
The NL won for the first time since an 8-0 win at Kansas City in 2012 thanks to Díaz, a catcher who became the first Rockies player to win All-Star MVP honors.
“It means a lot to me and my family,” he said. “It’s great for me to be in the ASG.”
Díaz, who was not called up by the Pirates in late 2019, scored a 2-2 win after Baltimore’s hard shots from deep left to put the NL ahead. Díaz was Colorado’s sole representative in his first All-Star Game appearance.
“It’s important. We wanted to win, we wanted to win the American League,” Bautista said through an interpreter. “But overall I think it’s an experience I’ll never forget and I wish it was a little different been.”
Díaz has nine homers this season but hasn’t hit a long ball since June 23 against the Los Angeles Angels.
For most of the evening, the All-Star Game was a pitcher duel highlighted by some big hits and excellent defense.
The NL got nervous in the ninth round. Wander Franco flew to the warning lane before taking on Philadelphia closer Craig Kimbrel, who beat Kyle Tucker and Seattle star Julio Rodríguez by two walks.
Kimbrel recovered, knocking out José Ramírez and ending the game. Kimbrel was also involved in the previous NL win, recording two outs in 2012.
“The ninth inning in the dugout was just a lot of fun,” said San Diego’s Josh Hader, who pitched the eighth for the NL.
Yandy Díaz hit a solo home run in the second inning and Bo Bichette’s sacrifice flight in the sixth inning gave the AL a 2-1 lead.
JD Martinez doubled and scored in game four against Seattle’s George Kirby from a single by Luis Arraez to level the 1st score. In the seventh game, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. seemed to level the game again when his shot down the left field line was originally called a home run but was called a foulball in the replay.
The All-Star Game returned to the Emerald City for the first time since 2001 when the Mariners were in the midst of their magical 116-win regular season, Cal Ripken Jr. bid farewell to the All-Star stage and Tommy Lasorda toppled.
Gerrit Cole was the first New York Yankees pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Roger Clemens in that game in 2001. It took him two spectacular jump catches from Adolis García and Randy Arozarena near the wall to get through the first inning unscathed.
Pitching was the story of the evening. Only nine balls were hit at more than 100 miles per hour. There were 20 total strikeouts, including Camilo Doval, who silenced the home crowd with a strikeout from Rodríguez in the seventh inning when four of the five pitches reached speeds in excess of 100 mph.
OHTANI SINGING
The All-Star Game was missing some big names through injuries in Mike Trout and Aaron Judge, but there was still Shohei Ohtani.
The Angels star had an uneventful night with a strikeout and walk as the designated batsman. Outside of the three Seattle representatives, he caused the biggest cheer at the introduction, and as he sat at the plate, he was accompanied by shouts of “Come to Seattle.”
Audiences in his hometown are well aware of his upcoming free agency this offseason.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it, but I definitely heard it,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “But I tried to concentrate on my shot.”
INJURIES
Toronto substitute Jordan Romano left the game in the seventh field after throwing the pitch which Gurriel fouled and was originally ruled fair. He threw five pitches before leaving the game with a spasm in his back.
Chicago White Sox slugger Luis Robert Jr. did not play after experiencing a tightness in his right calf during the Home Run Derby. The White Sox said Robert underwent an MRI in Seattle and is listed as day-to-day.
SIX PACK
Rangers made All-Star history when Nathan Eovaldi took the mound in the second half. This was the third time in an All-Star Game that six players from the same team were on the field at the same time. It also occurred with the 1939 Yankees and the 1951 Dodgers.
The Baseball Hall of Fame said that a ball signed by all six players in the game would go to Cooperstown.
“It has to be one of the cooler moments in sport when half the team is on the field, especially under these circumstances,” said catcher Jonah Heim. “It’s really special and I was happy to share it with these guys today.”
SKIP
Tampa Bay duo Shane McClanahan and Wander Franco were accidentally passed over at the pre-game introduction. The couple barged in alone, leaving it to the Rays’ social media staff to give them a proper announcement.
ODE TO THE SONICS
Milwaukee native Devin Williams has no known connection to Seattle, but did his part to woo fans with his All-Star Game shoe choice. Williams had custom green and yellow spikes made for the game, which featured previous Seattle SuperSonics logos.
Williams said he’s a casual NBA fan and doesn’t really remember the Sonics game in Seattle.
“It seemed pretty fitting for the game,” Williams said.
MARINATE EXCELLENT
Six of the eight members of the Seattle All-Star Squad from the 2001 game were recognized before the game. John Olerud, Bret Boone, Freddy Garcia, Jeff Nelson, Kazuhiro Sasaki, Edgar Martinez and manager Lou Piniella were honored. Ichiro Suzuki and Mike Cameron were also part of the All-Star team this season.
Baseball Hall of Famers Martinez and Ken Griffey Jr. threw the ceremonial first pitches to former teammates Dan Wilson and Jay Buhner.
NEXT
The portion of the schedule after the All-Star break begins Friday, with all teams in the league scheduled to be in action. San Diego in Philadelphia is the first game scheduled for Friday. The second half begins with Atlanta having the best record in baseball at 60-29 and an 8½ game lead in the NL East. Tampa Bay has the best record in the American League at 58-35, two games better than Baltimore.
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