86th MLB All-Star Game – American League 6, National League 3
WP – David Price (1-0) LP – Clayton Kershaw (0-1) Save – None
The American League beat the National League for the third straight year on Tuesday night in Cincinnati. Mike Trout led off the game with a home run, scored the go ahead run on a Prince Fielder single in the fifth and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Trout is the first player in the history of the game to win back-to-back All-Star Game MVP awards.
The Senior Circuit tied the game at one in the second inning on a bloop single by Jhonny Peralta. The American League scored two runs in the fifth on a single from Prince Fielder and a double by Lorenzo Cain. Andrew McCutchen made it a 3-2 game in the sixth with a solo homer. But the AL scored two runs in the seventh off Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Dozier took Mark Melancon deep in the eighth.
Mike Trout’s leadoff home run was the sixth leadoff home run in All-Star Game history and the first since Bo Jackson in 1989. Trout was 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk and two runs scored before he was lifted for pinch-runner Brock Holt in the seventh.
Jacob deGrom created a buzz when he struck out the side in order on 10 pitches in the sixth. deGrom became the first pitcher in All-Star Game history to strike out the side with 10 or fewer pitches.
Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant each had two plate appearances Tuesday night. Rizzo was 0-for-2. Rizzo grounded out to Albert Pujols in the second inning and flied out to center in the fifth. Bryant was 0-for-1 with a walk. Bryant entered the game in the seventh inning. Bryant played left field and worked a walk against Dellin Betances in the eighth. Bryant flied out to the track in right field in the ninth inning.
The Junior Circuit has won 15 of the last 19 All-Star Games, and the American League Champion will have home field advantage in the World Series.
Mike Trout led off the 86th All-Star Game and he drove a 1-2 pitch from Zack Greinke just into the stands in right field. And just like that Mike Trout channeled his inner Bo Jackson and gave the Junior Circuit a 1-0 lead. Greinke walked Josh Donaldson.
Albert Pujols in his return to the Midsummer Classic was called out on strikes (2-2 pitch). Greinke struck out Nelson Cruz swinging for the second out. Lorenzo Cain faced the man he was traded for and popped out to D.J. LeMahieu in shallow right to end the inning.
Dallas Keuchel sat down Andrew McCutchen (pop out to Pujols), Todd Frazier (grounder to third) and Bryce Harper (grounder) in order in the first inning.
After one complete, the AL led the NL 1-0.
Zack Greinke struck out Adam Jones and Salvador Perez for the first two outs in the second inning. Jose Altuve grounded out to a sliding D.J. LeMahieu in the hole for the third out.
The AL defense cost Dallas Keuchel a run in the second inning. Paul Goldschmidt dribbled a 3-2 pitch up the third baseline. Josh Donaldson fielded the ball but airmailed his throw to first. Goldschmidt ended up at second on a single and an error. Buster Posey rolled out to short. Goldschmidt advanced to third with one out.
Anthony Rizzo stepped in and Ned Yost pulled his infield in. Rizzo worked a full count before grounding out to Pujols. Goldschmidt held at third. Jhonny Peralta blooped a 1-0 pitch into right. Lorenzo Cain could not get to the ball. Goldschmidt scored, game tied at one. A wild pitch with Pederson at the plate allowed Peralta to move up 90 feet. Joc Pederson struck out swinging to end the inning.
The game was tied a one after two complete.
Gerrit Cole was next up for the National League. Alcides Escobar flied out to center for the first out. Cole struck out Mike Trout swinging on a nasty slider (1-2 pitch). Josh Donaldson worked his second walk in as many at bats. Albert Pujols lined out to McCutchen in center to end the third inning.
Ned Yost sent Felix Hernandez out for the third … and King Felix pitched a 1-2-3 third inning. D.J. LeMahieu lined out to Trout in center, McCutchen struck out swinging and Frazier rolled out to Escobar at short. Just eight pitches for Hernandez in the third inning.
NL and AL tied at one after three.
It was Madison Bumgarner’s turn in the fourth inning. After Cruz flied out to right, Lorenzo Cain reached on a single to center. Jones flied out to right. Salvador Perez struck out swinging at a 3-2 pitch in the dirt. The ball skipped under Posey and went to the backstop. Perez reached and Cain advanced all the way to third. Jose Altuve grounded out to second, LeMahieu flipped to Peralta to end the inning.
David Price made quick work of Harper (strikeout swinging), Goldschmidt (strikeout swinging) and Posey (liner to right) in the fourth inning.
The All-Stars were knotted at one after four innings.
Clayton Kershaw started the fifth inning and the American League went to work. Escobar led off with a single to left. Trout rolled into a 4-6 force out. Peralta took the toss from LeMahieu but Trout beat his throw to first. Manny Machado hit for Donaldson and flied out to the wall in left. Albert Pujols walked.
Ned Yost sent Prince Fielder up to hit for Nelson Cruz. Fielder singled to left, Trout scored and the AL took a 2-1 lead. With runners on first and second with two down, Lorenzo Cain pulled Kershaw’s first pitch to left. Pujols scored and Fielder ended up at third on a double by Cain, 3-1 AL. Brett Gardner hit for Jones and was called out on strikes.
Anthony Rizzo led off the fifth and flied out to center on a 1-1 pitch from Chris Archer. Peralta walked. Brandon Crawford ran for Peralta at first. Pederson struck out swinging (1-2 pitch). LeMahieu flied out to right (2-1 pitch) to end the inning.
At the end of five, the American League had a 3-1 lead.
Jacob deGrom struck out the side in order swinging (Stephen Vogt, Jason Kipnis and Jose Iglesias) in the sixth on 10 pitches, nine for strikes.
Andrew McCutchen started the sixth with a home run to left off Chris Archer, 3-2 AL. After Frazier grounded out to Machado, Ned Yost went to his pen for lefty Zach Britton. Bryce Harper struck out swinging. Goldschmidt reached on a throwing error by Britton and moved to second on a single to center off the bat of Yadier Molina. With two on and two down, Bruce Bochy went to his bench and sent up Troy Tulowitzki to hit for Anthony Rizzo. Tulowitzki grounded out to second to end the inning.
The AL had a 3-2 lead after six innings.
Francisco Rodriguez started the seventh for the National League and walked Mike Trout. Brock Holt ran for Trout and swiped second on a delayed steal with Machado at the plate. Manny Machado doubled to right center. Holt scored, 4-2 American League. Mark Teixeira grounded out to Joe Panik in the shift. Machado advanced to third and scored on a fly ball off the bat of Prince Fielder to center, 5-2 AL. J.D. Martinez grounded out to short for the third out.
The National League managed a one-out walk from Kris Bryant in the seventh, but that was all against Dellin Betances. Brandon Crawford grounded out to second, Bryant walked, Joe Panik struck out swinging and A.J. Pollock bounced out to third.
The AL had a 5-2 lead after seven innings.
Bruce Bochy called Mark Melancon’s number for the eighth. Melancon struck out Brett Gardner and Russell Martin looking for the first two outs. Brian Dozier launched a 1-2 pitch to deep center. The ball got over the wall, 6-2 American League. Jose Iglesias bounced out to third to end inning.
Wade Davis made his way to the hill for the eighth. Davis struck out Nolan Arenado swinging. Justin Upton singled to left and stole second with Adrian Gonzalez at the dish. Gonzalez struck out swinging. Jose Iglesias showed off his range with a pick in the hole and he threw out Yasmani Grandal at first to end the inning.
It was 6-2 American League after eight innings.
Aroldis Chapman lit up the radar gun in the ninth and made the home crowd very happy. Chapman struck out Brock Holt, Mike Moustakas and Mark Teixeira swinging on 14 pitches, nine for strikes.
Ryan Braun led off the ninth hitting for Troy Tulowitzki. Braun tripled to right off Glen Perkins. Brandon Crawford flied out to left, Braun tagged and scored, 6-3 AL. Kris Bryant flied out to the track in right and Joe Panik flied out to left to end the game.