The American League once again defeated the National League with a comeback 3-2 victory during the 92nd MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium to extend their winning streak to nine games. The AL has won 27 of the previous 34 All-Star Games and they are 47-43-2 all-time.
The NL’s last All-Star Game win came in 2012 when they defeated the AL, 8-0, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Melky Cabrera of the San Francisco Giants won the game’s MVP award.
Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw made his first career Midsummer Classic start and became the 13th pitcher in history to start the All-Star Game at his home park. Although two runners reached base against him, he was able to pitch a scoreless first inning.
L.A. Angels’ two-way star Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff single against the Dodgers’ southpaw, but Kershaw came back and picked him off at first base before striking out the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge. He followed by walking Rafael Devers of the Boston Red Sox before getting the Toronto Blue Jays’ young star Vladimir Gurrero Jr. to ground out and end the inning.
The National League quickly took a 1-0 lead when Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves opened the inning with a double before Mookie Betts followed with an RBI single. Betts only received one at-bat and he was pinch-hit for by the Washington Nationals’ Juan Soto in the third inning.
Their lead doubled when St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo home run after San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado hit into a double play. The 2-0 lead gave the NL their largest lead against the American League in an All-Star Game since 2012.
Tony Gonsolin took over in the fourth inning to make his All-Star Game debut, but it didn’t go as he would’ve liked. José Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians opened the inning with a single before Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton tied the game with a two-run blast.
The home run earned Stanton the MVP award in his return to Southern California. He finished his day 1-for-2.
Stanton’s home run was followed by the dynamic Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton hitting a solo homer to put the AL up 3-2 thanks to back-to-back homers.
Gonsolin finished his day giving up four hits with three runs on two homers and striking out one. He was the only NL pitcher to allow a run.
Following the NL scoring two runs off Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane McClanahan in the first, the rest of the AL’s arms posted zeros the rest of the way and even held the NL hitless until the Braves’ Austin Riley singled to open the eighth.
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase earned the save with 2 strikeouts and a perfect inning. Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros was credited with the win while Gonsolin took the loss.
The rest of the Dodgers in the All-Star Game
Trea Turner singled in his first at-bat, but nothing else came of it after Willson Contreras struck out. Turner finished his day 1-for-2 before being removed for Dansby Swanson.
Freddie Freeman entered the game in the third inning as a pinch-hitter for Goldschmidt but grounded out into the shift to end the inning. He was then substituted out of the game in the fourth inning for Pete Alonso.
Tyler Anderson, who was named to the team as a replacement, did not pitch in the game.
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