In the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, the National League snapped a nine-game losing streak over the American League. The winning hit came from the most unexpected player.
After nine seasons in the majors, Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Díaz, 32, smashed a two-run homer in the eighth inning to secure the National League a 3-2 victory in Seattle’s T-Mobile Park. This is the league’s first victory since 2012.
Daz had hit.244/.299/.384 in his career before this season, but he made the All-Star team after hitting somewhat better.In the first half, he hit 277/.328/.435 shots. Even yet, his numbers did not stand out among his teammates, as he was facing probably MLB’s best reliever in Baltimore Orioles’ Félix Bautista. This season, Bautista has a 1.07 ERA, 23 saves, and 84 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched.
Bautista threw his splitter in a 2-2 count, which batters are hitting. According to Baseball Savant, 143/.196/.179 in 2023 — and Daz rode it. He was ecstatic as he ran the bases.
Díaz was named All-Star Game MVP after hitting a home run.
“I was caught up in the moment,” Díaz later told Fox Sports via interpreter. “I never imagined I’d be in this position in my career, but to be able to contribute to the win and be named MVP is something truly special.”
Díaz came into the game with a personal endorsement from Rockies manager Bud Black, who informed NL manager Rob Thomson, “This is one of the finest people you’ll ever meet.” It’s fine if he doesn’t play. It would be fantastic if he could play. He’s just glad to be here.”
The San Francisco Giants’ Camilo Doval earned the victory, Bautista took the loss, and Philadelphia Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel earned the save, despite Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco came a few feet short of tying the game with a shot to the warning track in the ninth inning.
Here’s what else happened during a good game in Seattle.
Adolis Garca and Randy Arozarena made highlight-reel receptions to kick off the All-Star Game.
Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees got the start. On paper, it was a successful and efficient inning, as he struck out all three opponents on nine pitches.
However, in practise, it was an adventure.
Ronald Acua Jr. of the Atlanta Braves nearly hit an opposite-field home run to start the game, but he was robbed by Adolis Garca of the Texas Rangers in right field. Then Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena, who shared a room with Garca while they were both minor leaguers with the St. Louis Cardinals, made an equally outstanding catch in left field against Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman.
“You have to have faith in your defence.” “I mean, I’m here to strike,” Cole explained. “I was a little more concerned about Freddie’s than Ronald’s, but either way, you’ve got to trust your defence.” You’ve got world-class players chasing the ball. So I believe that went well.”
Arozarena also had a hit in the bottom of the frame but was caught stealing to end it.
Yandy Diaz celebrates the approaching birth of her child with her
Yandy Diaz, the Rays’ third baseman, is having a fantastic week. With a homer off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller in the second inning, the American League’s current on-base percentage leader scored the game’s opening run.
For most players, that would be the highlight of the All-Star break, but Díaz happened to be playing with his wife, who is expecting their first child on Wednesday. According to MLB.com, Díaz did not fly to Seattle with his Rays colleagues, instead staying in town until a late-night departure on Monday. In addition, he was the only AL starter who skipped batting practise before the game.
Díaz will reportedly fly back to Florida after the game and arriving around 6 a.m., with his wife’s C-section set for 7 a.m.
Fans of the Mariners make their pitch to Shohei Ohtani.
In the All-Star Game, players from the home team’s divisional opponent typically receive a lukewarm greeting at best, but Shohei Ohtani is not like most baseball players.
The two-way superstar from the Los Angeles Angels, who is on course for a historically expensive free agency following this season, received the start as the AL’s designated hitter. As he approached the plate, the Seattle crowd chanted, nearly in unison, “Come to Seattle!”
“I’ve never seen anything like it. “I definitely heard it,” Ohtani said afterwards, via interpreter. He also stated that he enjoys the city and has spent time there during the offseason, as if Mariners fans hadn’t already invested enough of their emotions in the prospect of seeing the former MVP in a teal uniform.
When Freeman and Mookie Betts were interviewed on the broadcast, the Los Angeles Dodgers were mentioned as another team interested in signing Ohtani. When asked if they intended to start their own Ohtani chant, Freeman responded, “That would be tampering.”
On the plus side for Los Angeles (excluding Anaheim), Ohtani stated that Betts was the player who most impressed him in Seattle.
Meanwhile, in the fifth inning, some Oakland Athletics fans had their own chant: “Sell the team.”
On replay, the NL loses Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s game-tying HR.
Before Diaz came through, the National League appeared to have gotten a much-needed solo homer to tie the game in the seventh inning, when Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. blasted a ball to deep left centre.
On replay, however, the homer was ruled a foul ball.
Gurriel still managed to single — albeit against a different reliever, as Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano was out with an injury — but a Juan Soto popup and Pete Alonso strikeout ended the inning with the NL scoreless.
Julio Rodriguez was given the opportunity to have an all-time ASG moment.
The game’s penultimate plate appearance provided the most opportunity for drama. With the AL trailing 3-2 and a runner on base, Mariners star Julio Rodrguez entered to bat against Kimbrel. The entire crowd, as well as Rodriguez, realised what was conceivable based on his high-effort swinging and what he said after the game.
“Oh my god, that was unbelievable,” he exclaimed. “I was definitely trying to win it, honestly.”
Instead of a walk-off home run, Rodrguez was walked, and José Ramrez of the Cleveland Indians struck out the next batter to conclude the game.