Major League Baseball’s biggest stars gathered and played in one of the most exciting All-Star Games of all-time when the American League topped the National League, 8-6, in 10 innings at the 2018 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday at Nationals Park in Washington D.C.
Here is a recap of the thrilling, extra-inning roller coaster from Tuesday night in our Nation’s capital:
Lineups
These are the starting lineups from the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, consisting of perennial All-Stars such as Mike Trout, Jose Altuve, and Nolan Arenado, as well as first-timers such as Nick Markakis, Jed Lowrie, Scooter Gennett, and Alex Bregman.
American League
1-Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox, RF
2-Jose Altuve, Houston Astros, 2B
3-Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels, CF
4-J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox, DH
5-Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians, 3B
6-Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, LF
7-Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles, SS
8-Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox, 1B
9-Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals, C
1-Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs, 2B
2-Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies, 3B
3-Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks, DH
4-Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves, 1B
5-Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers, LF
6-Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals, CF
7-Nick Markakis, Atlanta Braves, RF
8-Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants, SS
9-Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs, C
AL: Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox (10-4, 2.23 ERA, 129.0 IP, 188 K)
NL: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (12-5, 2.41 ERA, 134.2 IP, 182 K)
Chris Sale and Max Scherzer both started the All-Star Game for the second straight season. Scherzer became the first pitcher to ever follow a Cy Young Award-winning season by starting the All-Star Game in their home park.
C: Yan Gomes, Indians
C: Wilson Ramos, Rays (injured)
1B: Mitch Moreland, Red Sox
2B: Gleyber Torres, Yankees (injured)
2B: Jed Lowrie, Athletics
3B Alex Bregman, Astros
SS: Francisco Lindor, Indians
SS: Jean Segura, Mariners
OF: Michael Brantley, Indians
OF: Shin-Soo Choo, Rangers
OF: Mitch Haniger, Mariners
OF: George Springer, Astros
OF: Nelson Cruz, Mariners
RHP: Trevor Bauer, Indians
RHP: Jose Berrios, Twins
LHP: Aroldis Chapman, Yankees
RHP: Gerrit Cole, Astros
RHP: Edwin Diaz, Mariners
LHP: J.A. Happ, Blue Jays
RHP: Joe Jimenez, Tigers
RHP: Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox
RHP: Corey Kluber, Indians
RHP: Charlie Morton, Astros
RHP: Luis Severino, Yankees
LHP: Blake Snell, Rays
RHP: Blake Treinen, Athletics
RHP: Justin Verlander, Astros
National League Reserves
C: Yadier Molina, Cardinals
C: Buster Posey, Giants (injured)
C: J.T. Realmuto, Marlins
1B: Jesus Aguilar, Brewers
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks
1B: Joey Votto, Reds
2B: Ozzie Albies, Braves
2B: Scooter Gennett, Reds
3B: Eugenio Suarez, Reds
SS: Trevor Story, Rockies
OF: Charlie Blackmon, Rockies
OF: Lorenzo Cain, Brewers
OF: Christian Yelich, Brewers
National League Pitchers
LHP: Patrick Corbin, Diamondbacks
RHP: Jacob deGrom, Mets
LHP: Sean Doolittle, Nationals (injured)
RHP: Mike Foltynewicz, Braves
RHP: Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks
LHP: Josh Hader, Brewers
LHP: Brad Hand, Padres
RHP: Kenley Jansen, Dodgers
RHP: Jeremy Jeffress, Brewers
LHP: Jon Lester, Cubs
RHP: Miles Mikolas, Cardinals
RHP: Aaron Nola, Phillies
RHP: Ross Stripling, Dodgers
LHP: Felipe Vazquez, Pirates
1ST INNING
Top of the 1st
Max Scherzer kicked off the top of the first on a high note, striking out Mookie Betts and Jose Altuve. Mike Trout battled Scherzer and worked a walk on a 3-2 curveball before Designated Hitter J.D. Martinez singled to center. With runners on the corners, Scherzer got Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez to pop out to end the threat.
Bottom of the 1st
In his first career All-Star Game At-Bat against Chris Sale, Javier Baez laced the first pitch he saw into center field for a single, but Chris Sale rebounded quickly and got Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado to fly out before striking out Diamondbacks Designated Hitter, Paul Goldschmidt. Freddie Freeman then proceeded to fly out to deep center to end the inning.
End of 1st: AL 0, NL 0
2ND INNING
Top of the 2nd
Max Scherzer went out again in for a second inning of work and Aaron Judge, who was leading off the inning, proceeded to punish a ball deep to the left field bullpen where teammate Luis Severino caught the ball (!) and open the scoring for the American League. Scherzer rebounded just fine though and retired the next three batters in order.
ALL RISE IN THE ALL STAR GAME.
Aaron Judge goes YARD off Max Scherzer. pic.twitter.com/O7KsG13Tx4
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 18, 2018
Bottom of the 2nd
New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino entered the game in the bottom of the second inning. After allowing a leadoff double to Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, Severino struck out Washington Nationals slugger and Home Run Derby winner Bryce Harper for the first out of the inning. Severino then forced Braves right fielder Nick Markakis to fly out to left field. Sevy then stranded Kemp at second by striking out San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford on a high fastball.
End of 2nd: AL 1, NL 0
3RD INNING
Top of the 3rd
New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom came in into the game in relief of Scherzer in the top of the 3rd inning and seemed to be destined for a 1-2-3 inning, but Mike Trout had a different plan and hit a long fly ball on a deGrom fastball out to the left-field bullpen to put the American League up 2-0.
Mike Trout gets in on the HR party ✌️ pic.twitter.com/MCqey7rRZO
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 18, 2018
Bottom of the 3rd
The National League cut into the American League’s 2-0 lead when Chicago Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras lined a solo home run into the first row of the left-field seats to lead off the bottom of the third inning. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Blake Snell retired the next two batters, and after a two-out walk to Paul Goldschmidt, Snell retired Freddie Freeman to end the inning.
Hit a dinger, get a high-five from your 1B coach.
📹: @ActionStreamer. pic.twitter.com/Y19zF1vDcz
— All-Star Game (@AllStarGame) July 18, 2018
End of 3rd: AL 2, NL 1
4TH INNING
Top of the 4th
Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz kept the American League off the board in the top of the fourth inning. Outside of a one-out walk to Aaron Judge, Foltynewicz set down the other three batters he faced to keep it a one-run game and give the National League a chance to tie it all up.
Bottom of the 4th
Blake Snell came out for a second inning and struck out a pair to open the frame before walking Nick Markakis. American League manager A.J. Hinch then proceeded to make a pitching change. Hinch brought in Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Joe Jimenez, who struck out San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford to end the inning.
End of 4th: AL 2, NL 1
5TH INNING
Top of the 5th
Philadelphia Phillies ace Aaron Nola made his All-Star Game debut in the top of the fifth inning. Outside of a two-out single to Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, Nola pitched an easy frame, retiring superstars Mookie Betts and Mike Trout.
Bottom of the 5th
Minnesota Twins ace Jose Berrios tossed a scoreless bottom of the fifth inning for the American League. After allowing a two-out walk to Nolan Arenado, pinch-hitter Yadier Molina of the Cardinals skied a fly ball to deep center that was put away by Trout near the warning track to end the inning.
End of 5th: AL 2, NL 1
6TH INNING
Top of the 6th
Milwaukee Brewers stud reliever Jeremy Jeffress walked Nelson Cruz of the Seattle Mariners to lead off the top of the sixth inning but then proceeded to retire the next three batters to keep the National League within one run of their American League competitors.
Bottom of the 6th
Oakland Athletics pitchers Blake Treinen pitched a perfect sixth inning in relief for the American League by getting a pair of fly outs and one groundout.
End of 6th: AL 2, NL 1
7TH INNING
Top of the 7th
Pirates pitcher Felipe Vasquez pitched a solid inning in the top of the 7th, getting the first two outs before giving up a single off the bat of Indians outfielder Michael Brantley and then a walk to Jed Lowrie to put runners on first and second with two outs, before striking out Mitch Haniger to end the inning.
Bottom of the 7th
Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story lined a home run into the left-field seats to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning (giving the game its first run since the third inning) to tie the score 2-2. His home run was the fourth solo shot of the game.
The comeback story.#AllStarGame pres. by @Mastercard pic.twitter.com/cwhHjeWbHn
— MLB (@MLB) July 18, 2018
End of 7th: AL 2, NL 2
8TH INNING
Top of the 8th
Jean Segura was not about to let this game slip away from the American League and one pitch after Joey Votto was given an error after dropping a foul popup in front of the dugout, Segura Launched a three-run homer to left field to put the American League up 5-2. The American League would garner 4 hits off of the strikeout happy Josh Hader and drive him out of the ballgame with just one out.
JEAN SEGURA FOR THE LEAD.
The @Mariners' star CRUSHES a 3-run homer pic.twitter.com/tpQ6NfQQgx
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 18, 2018
Bottom of the 8th
Following Jean Segura’s blast, Christian Yelich brought the National League within 2 with an opposite-field home run into the left-field bullpen off of Charlie Morton. Yelich’s blast marked the sixth home run of the night, and the six home runs accounted for all eight runs through the eighth inning.
End of 8th: AL 5, NL 3
9TH INNING
Top of the 9th
The American League went down quietly in the top of the ninth inning, with San Diego Padres lefty Brad Hand and Los Angeles Dodgers righty Ross Stripling combining for a perfect frame. The National League trailed by two entering the bottom of the ninth.
Bottom of the 9th
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning as a pinch hitter with 1 out, and he promptly delivered a two-run, game-tying home run to right field, knotting the game at 5-5. The National League failed to score again following Scooter’s dinger and free baseball was ahead.
SCOOTER GENNETT TIE GAME!
Wow. pic.twitter.com/60rKgQZbKB
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 18, 2018
End of 9th: AL 5, NL 5
10TH INNING
Top of the 10th
Following Scooter Gennett’s dramatic two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game for the National League and force extra innings, the American League struck back with three runs in the 10th inning. Astros third baseman Alex Bregman broke the tie with a solo home run, and teammate George Springer tacked on a solo home run of his own in the next at-bat. A Michael Brantley sacrifice fly later in the frame made it a three-run lead, putting the American League up 8-5. The National League would need to score 3 or more runs in the bottom of the 10th, or the game would be over.
ICYMI: Astros' Alex Bregman and George Springer go back-to-back to help lead AL past NL in All-Star Game. (Via Fox) pic.twitter.com/8g671Br2Ow
— ESPN 97.5 Houston (@espn975) July 18, 2018
Bottom of the 10th
Cincinnati Red first baseman Joey Votto led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a solo home run, pulling the NL within 8-6 and extending the record for most home runs in an All-Star Game with the night’s 10th. Unfortunately for the National League, that would be all the National League would manage in the 10th, and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ finished off the inning to give the AL the victory.
JOSEPH. DANIEL. VOTTO. Enough said!#AllStarGame #RedsCountry pic.twitter.com/SLjXBMFbWM
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 18, 2018
Final: AL 8, NL 6
Joey Votto’s home run would mark the 10th of the 2018 All-Star Game, setting a new record for most home runs in an All-Star Game. The previous record was 6, which had been done 4 separate times. In case you missed it, the players that went yard were Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, Willson Contreras, Trevor Story, Jean Segura, Christian Yellich, Scooter Gennett, Alex Bregman, George Springer and Joey Votto. All were solo shots except for Segura’s and Gennett’s, with Segura’s being three-run shot off of Josh Hader in the eighth and Gennett’s a two-run shot off of Edwin Diaz which sent things into extra innings.
The American League’s win continued their All-Star Game win streak of 6 consecutive Mid-Summer Classics and the American League would finally go ahead of the National League in that all-time All-Star Game standings at 44-42-2.
All-Star Game MVP: Alex Bregman
In a game with 10 home runs, several came in dramatic moments, and the most important came off the bat of Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman. His solo shot broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the 10th inning, sparking a three-run inning for the American League to seal the win.
