The American League won its seventh straight All-Star Game besting the National League 4-3 in front of a capacity crowd at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
Former Tribe outfielder Michael Brantley, now of the Houston Astros, got the scoring started in the second with a double off Los Angeles Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw. Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco singled in the fifth to give the AL a 2-0 lead.
The NL finally got on the board in the sixth when Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon hit a solo HR off Oakland A's closer Liam Hendriks. The AL would get that run back when A's third baseman Matt Chapman scored after Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts hit into a double play. NL manager Dave Roberts removed Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff in favor of San Francisco Giants closer Will Smith who promptly gave up a solo HR to Texas Ranger slugger Joey Gallo to give the AL a 4-1 lead after 7 innings.
The NL would make things interesting in the 8th inning when HR Derby champion Pete Alonso hit a two run single. But Indians closer Brad Hand managed to get out of the inning by getting Brewers third baseman Mike Moustakas to foul out to White Sox catcher James McCann.
New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the 9th with the help of a visit from teammate C.C Sabathia who got a nice hand from the Cleveland crowd. Sabathia, of course, began his Hall of Fame career with the Tribe. Other classy gestures included a tribute to fallen Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs and the presence of cancer striken Tribe pitcher Carlos Carrasco on the field during the Stand Up to Cancer ceremony.
There wasn't an obvious All-Star Game MVP. The hometown fans were happy that Indians pitcher Shane Bieber was chosen on the strength of striking out the side in the fifth inning. Bieber becomes the first pitcher to win the honor since Mariano Rivera's swan song at the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field in New York.
The 2020 MLB All-Star Game will take place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. It will be the first time the mid-season classic will be held at Chavez Ravine in 40 years. The NL, like the Dodgers, will have to wait until next year.
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