AL Wins Sixth Straight All-Star Game In Second Consecutive Extra Inning Contest

For the sixth straight year, the American League has won the All-Star Game with an 8-6 win over the National League in 10 innings. It is the second year in a row the game has gone extra innings. It's the first time the All-Star Game has gone extra innings in back to back seasons in 1966 and 1967. The AL has now won 44 All-Star Games versus 43 for the NL. It's the first time the AL has taken the overall lead in All-Star Game triumphs since 1963.

Home runs were the theme of this game. There were 10 in all. Aaron Judge got the ball launching in the top of the 2nd inning off Max Scherzer much to the chagrin of the fans in D.C. Mike Trout made it 2-0 with a solo shot in the top of the 3rd.

Chicago Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras got the NL on the board with a solo HR to lead off the bottom of the 3rd. The offense would remain dormant until Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story tied the game in the bottom of the 7th with a solo shot of his own.

The AL took what appeared to be a commanding 5-2 lead on a three run HR by Seattle Mariners shortstop Jean Segura. Although Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader gave up the dinger, it was Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto who took the heat for it. Votto dropped a ball near the dugout and was charged with a very tough error.

But the NL battled back. Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich hit a solo shot in the 8th to cut the AL's lead to 5-3. Cincinnati Reds infielder Scotter Gennett tied the game in the 9th with a two run shot to force the game into extra innings.

The 10th inning belonged to the Houston Astros with Alex Bregman and George Springer hitting back to back HRs to give the AL a 7-5 lead.

The AL finally scored a run not involving a HR on a sacrifice fly by Cleveland Indians outfielder Michael Brantley.

Joey Votto partially atoned for his error with a leadoff HR in the bottom of the 10th. But it wasn't enough and the NL will have to wait until next year when the All-Star Game convenes at Progressive Field in Cleveland to try to end their drought.

For hitting the go ahead HR, Alex Bregman earned the All-Star Game MVP.

There was one thing that really, really annoyed me. For the second year in a row, Joe Buck interviewed the players while they were out in the field. Last year, he interviewed George Springer and Bryce Harper. This year it was Harper, Mike Trout, Matt Kemp, Francisco Lindor and Charlie Blackmon. The Harper, Lindor and Blackmon interviews were particularly annoying because Trout, Story and Segura hit their HRs during them and Buck treated those HRs as if they were an interruption of his interview. In years to come, I wouldn't be surprised if Buck tries to interview a player while at bat or on the mound.

By doing this, FOX is essentially telling us the game doesn't matter and isn't worth our attention. They are burying baseball.

If you took away all this nonsense there was actually a good ballgame. Baseball doesn't need all these bells and whistles. But it's going to get it whether it likes it or not.