SEATTLE — It’s the American League against the National League in MLB’s summer showcase of the sport’s brightest stars. The NL players are trying to snap a nine-game losing streak against their AL counterparts Tuesday in Seattle. But really, we’re just here to see all the best baseball players put on a show.
Among the names to watch is Corbin Carroll of the Diamondbacks, a rookie and also an NL MVP contender making his All-Star debut in his hometown. And, of course, there’s the two-way feel Shohei Ohtani, which lights up the dashboard with seemingly everything it does.
After Monday’s Home Run Derby, won by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. following epic performances from Julio Rodríguez and Adley Rutschman in the first round, we expect a lot more fireworks in the 93rd MLB All-Star Game. .
Stay tuned for updates, reactions and highlights from T-Mobile Park.
Second set: AL 1, NL 0
JD Martinez started the second inning with a single from Nathan Eovaldi, who replaced Cole for the AL, and advanced to second two batters later on a Luis Arraez single. But that was as far as they went, as Eovaldi made quick work of the next two batters.
Late in the second, Yandy Díaz put the American League on the board first with a solo home run against NL pitcher Mitch Keller.
ZC: YANDY!
first run
Things started off with a bang, as Ronald Acuña Jr. and Freddie Freeman hit deep balls off AL starter Gerrit Cole, only to be foiled by outfielders Adolis Garcia and Randy Arozarena, respectively.
HK: Very quickly, we have a demonstration of why the All-Star break needs to have skills competitions — specifically, defensive skills competitions.
As the AL’s second batter, Shohei Ohtani was immediately greeted with chants of “Come to Seattle” from the packed crowd at T-Mobile Park. Ohtani struck against NL starter Zac Gallen, but the feeling remains.
HK: Did they plan that? What remarkable coordination to pull off – with such clear enunciation too – on his first at bat.
The first hit of the night belongs to Randy Arozarena, who singled to left field…before getting caught stealing.
Said Cole after leaving: “A lot of adrenaline for a day in the paddock.”
As for how he felt about the near-consecutive home runs that started the game?
“You have to trust your defense. I mean, I’m here to throw shots,” Cole said. “I was a little more worried about Freddie than I was about Ronald, but either way, like, yeah, you have to trust your defense. You have world class guys there running the ball. So I think it worked very well.