The 2019 edition of the MLB All-Star Game was held Tuesday night at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Play got underway following a brief moment of silence in honor of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who recently passed away while the team was on the road for a series against the Texas Rangers.
Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros started for the American League, while Hyun-Jin Ryu started for the National League. Both starters worked a scoreless opening inning. The AL struck first, scoring in the second inning on an RBI double by OF Michael Brantley of the Astros, who drove in his Houston teammate INF Alex Bregman. In the 5th inning, the AL scored again on an infield single by INF Jorge Polanco of the Minnesota Twins that brought C Gary Sánchez of the New York Yankees across the plate.
In the top of the 6th, the NL got on the board thanks to a solo homer by OF Charlie Blackmon of the Colorado Rockies. The AL added on in the bottom of the 7th when PH Xander Bogaerts of the Boston Red Sox grounded into a double play to bring in INF Matt Chapman of the Oakland Athletics. Following a pitching change, OF Joey Gallo of the Rangers hit a solo bomb to make the score 4-1.
In the top of the 8th, the NL brought the go-ahead run to the plate against RP Brad Hand of the hosting Cleveland franchise, loading the bases with one out. Hand struck out Blackmon, making rookie New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso, the winner of Monday night’s Home Run Derby, the NL’s last chance in the inning. Alonso shot a line drive through the left side of the infield to score C Yasmani Grandal of the Brewers and OF David Dahl of the Rockies, reducing the deficit to one. However, Hand induced a popout by INF Mike Moustakas of the Brewers secured on a nice diving grab by C James McCann of the Chicago White Sox to end the NL scoring threat.
RP Aroldis Chapman of the Yankees came on to close out the game in the top of the 9th, striking out the side to secure the seventh consecutive Midsummer Classic victory for the American League.
The Toronto Blue Jays had no representation on the victorious AL team after SP Marcus Stroman bowed out due to injury. The Jays’ only player to participate in any baseball activities in Cleveland was INF Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was the runner-up to Alonso in Monday night’s Home Run Derby, finishing with a record total of 91 home runs in the event.
The Chicago Cubs All-Stars, INF Javier Báez, INF Kris Bryant and C Willson Contreras finished without any hits or runs scored, but Báez was able to enjoy a family moment with an at-bat against his brother-in-law José BerrÃos of the Twins, flying out to end the 3rd inning.
SP Shane Bieber of the hometown club was honored with the MVP award following the game. Bieber struck out the side in the 5th inning to hold the score at 2-0.
The MLB season will resume on Thursday, July 11. The Rangers will host the Astros at Globe Life Park in Arlington starting at 8:05 PM ET. Matchup: TBD vs. Lance Lynn (11-4, 3.91 ERA). Support the site by purchasing your tickets from SeatGeek!
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