The All-Star Game went into extra innings for the first time since 2008 when the American League defeated the National League, 4-3, at Yankee Stadium. They edged by the NL All-Stars on Tuesday night in Miami, behind Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano’s home run in the 10th inning.
Predictably, Cano was named All-Star Game MVP. Chicago Cubs closer Wade Davis was saddled with the loss in the 2-1 defeat.
Cleveland Indians closer Andrew Miller retired Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager and Atlanta Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte before walking Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto.
Cody Bellinger, who homered off Miller when the Dodgers visited Progressive Field in June, chased a slider well out of the zone and struck out on four pitches to end the game.
Alex Wood was the first Dodgers player to enter the Midsummer Classic. He took over in the fifth inning and was hurt by some bad luck in what amounted to a small two-out rally.
Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop pulled a grounder down the third-base line that got by Colorado Rockies Gold Glover Nolan Arenado on his diving attempt.
Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano’s blooper to right field dropped amongst a trio of Washington Nationals — Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman — for an RBI single that broke a scoreless tie.
The Dodgers were next represented in the sixth inning when Bellinger, Seager and Justin Turner entered the game at right field, shortstop and third base, respectively. Bellinger grounded out to lead off the bottom of the sixth, and Turner popped-out to end the inning.
Prior to that point, Wood, who finished the first half 10-0, was let off the hook when St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina tied the game with a solo home run. Molina, set to turn 35 years old on Thursday, became oldest catcher to hit a home run in the All-Star Game.
With the score still tied, Seager stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on first base, only to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Bellinger had an opportunity to break a 1-1 tie in the eighth but grounded out for a second time. Dodgers position players finished a combined 0-for-6.
Kenley Jansen entered in the ninth and allowed a leadoff single and stolen base to Yonder Alonso. He responded by striking out the next three batters faced, overcoming a balk call that put Alonso at third with two outs.
Jansen became the first Dodgers reliever to appear in back-to-back All-Star Games since Eric Gagné in 2003 and 2004.
The AL extended their All-Star Game winning streak to five games, but instead of securing home-field advantage in the 2017 World Series the team received a pool of money.
The AL won the first seven and last four matchups when home-field advantage was on the line, good for 11 of 14 overall. This year was the first time since 2003 World Series implications were not associated with the Midsummer Classic.
