Elias Diaz hit a game winning two-run homerun in the eight inning Tuesday night, leading the National League to a 3-2 victory over the American League in the 93rd edition of the MLB All-Star Game held at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. The win snaps a nine game losing streak to the AL in the Midsummer Classic.
The American League, who had won each game since 2012, scored first when Yandy Diaz (Tampa Bay) hit a one out solo homerun to left field in the bottom of the second inning off Mitch Keller (Pittsburgh). In the fourth, the NL tied it. Former Boston DH and outfielder JD Martinez (LA Dodgers) led off with a double, and scored on a one out single by Luis Arraez (Miami). Arraez batted .383 in the first half of the season. The AL jumped back in front in the sixth when Salvador Perez (Kansas City) singled with one out, and rookie Brent Rooker (Oakland) followed with a ground-rule double. Perez came across to score on a sacrifice fly by Bo Bichette (Toronto). The NL thought they had tied it in the seventh inning when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (Arizona) nailed one down the left field line with one out off Jordan Romano (Toronto) for a solo homer. Upon an umpire review though, it was ruled a foul ball. In the eighth against one of the games top relievers in Felix Bautista (Baltimore), the National League took a lead they didn’t relinquish. Nick Castellenos (Philadelphia) led off with a walk, and then Diaz (Colorado) took a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left for the two-run game winning homerun. Diaz, a nine year veteran catcher, was appearing in his first All-Star game. The American League had some chances in the bottom of the ninth to try to extend their winning streak against Craig Kimbrel (Philadelphia). Wander Franco (Tampa Bay) led off and skied one deep into right field, but it was tracked down by Juan Soto (San Diego) on the warning track for a long out. With two down, Kyle Tucker (Houston) and fan favorite Julio Rodriguez (Seattle) worked back to back walks. Kimbrel though struckout Jose Ramirez (Cleveland) to end it.
Martinez and Arraez both had two hits for the National League, leading all hitters in the game. Camilo Doval, the San Francisco closer, got the pitching victory and Kimbrel picked up the save. Michael Lorenzen (Detroit) took the loss, with Bautista suffering the blown save. The lone representative from the Boston Red Sox, closer Kenley Jansen, got into the game for one batter in the eighth inning and struckout Gurriel Jr. The American League still leads the all-time series 47-44-2.
The second half of the MLB season begins on Friday. Boston, winners of five in a row and eight of their last nine, will be in Chicago for a three game interleague series with the Cubs at Wrigley Field beginning at 8:05 p.m.
Story by Chris Lessner
