AL Pitching Staff Delivers Historic Shutout in All-Star Victory Over NL

Dylan Cease opened the game by striking out the side in the first inning, setting the tone for a masterful combined effort that saw 10 relievers join him on a three-hitter. The American League’s pitching dominance powered a 4-0 victory over the National League in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.

All-Star Game MVP Cody Bellinger drove in two runs with a single, and Ben Rice followed with an RBI single in the opening frame against Cristopher Sánchez of the host Philadelphia Phillies. Miguel Vargas of the Chicago White Sox provided the game’s only extra-base hit, a solo home run in the eighth inning off Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Justin Wrobleski, who was pitching on his 26th birthday. The AL has now won 18 of the last 23 meetings and holds a 49-45-2 edge in the all-time series.

The National League managed just three singles — by Juan Soto in the fourth, Pete Crow-Armstrong in the eighth, and Otto Lopez in the ninth — and failed to advance a runner past first base. Pitchers combined for 27 strikeouts, with AL hurlers accounting for 15.

Cease fanned Kyle Schwarber, Soto, and CJ Abrams around a walk in the first inning, becoming only the seventh pitcher to record three strikeouts in an All-Star opening inning. He joined an elite group that includes Carl Hubbell (1934), Warren Spahn (1949), Jim Palmer (1977), Dave Stieb (1983), Pedro Martinez (1999), and Brad Penny (2006) — four of whom are Hall of Famers.

Parker Messick, Michael Wacha, Joe Ryan, Nick Martinez, Cade Smith, Drew Rasmussen, Jacob Latz, Louis Varland, Aroldis Chapman, and Bryan Baker completed the first All-Star shutout since the AL’s 2-0 win at New York’s Citi Field in 2013.

Notable absences included Jacob Misiorowski, Paul Skenes, and Shohei Ohtani. Just six pitches reached 100 mph, the fewest in an All-Star Game since 2021.

Bellinger and Rice both singled on up sinkers from Sánchez, who labored through a 34-pitch first inning that included three hits and two walks.

“It just took me a little time to soak it all in and enjoy it,” Sánchez said through a translator.

Mike Trout, a 12-time All-Star who hadn’t appeared in the game since 2019 due to injuries, went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero was struck on the outside of his left hand by a 97.6 mph sinker from St. Louis closer Riley O’Brien in the third inning and immediately exited. The 23-year-old, who ranks fourth in the majors with 28 home runs, remained down briefly before jogging to the clubhouse. X-rays were negative.

In a nod to the host city’s history, managers and starters entered through replica Liberty Bells in front of each dugout, proceeded to home plate, and used a feathered quill to sign an oversized lineup card — evoking the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration of Independence. The infield dirt was encircled by 13 stars, representing the original colonies.

Fireworks erupted after the fourth inning accompanied by video of Ray Charles performing “America the Beautiful” at Game 2 of the 2001 World Series.

Philadelphia was awarded this year’s All-Star Game in 2019, an unusually long lead time designed to coincide with the United States’ 250th semiquincentennial. The Phillies previously hosted the 1976 and 1996 games at Veterans Stadium, while the Athletics hosted in 1943 and 1952 at Shibe Park.

At the 1996 game, Cal Ripken Jr.’s nose was broken when he was struck by a forearm from Chicago White Sox reliever Roberto Hernandez, who lost his balance on a platform during the AL team picture.

Next year’s game is scheduled for the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field for the first time since 1990, though the event faces potential disruption from possible labor strife.

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