This was not what baseball fans were expecting.
Before the 96th MLB All-Star Game on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, fans were talking about how “The Bank” was a hitter’s park.
Those thoughts were only validated by the Home Run Derby on July 13. However, the All-Star Game was a pitching showcase, as the American League defeated the National League 4-0.
The American League pitchers combined to throw a three-hitter and limited the National League to just five baserunners. Overall, the NL went 3-for-30. It was the first All-Star Game shutout since the AL defeated the NL 3-0 at Citi Field in 2013.
The American League has won 11 of the last 13 All-Star Games.
The NL’s three-hit performance almost tied an All-Star Game record for fewest hits in a game. The record is still held by the 1990 NL squad with two hits at another hitter’s ballpark — Wrigley Field.
The American League pitchers also set a record, striking out 15 NL hitters.
“It’s the game now. Guys’ stuff is unbelievable,” AL manager John Schneider said. “To see Luis Arraez strike out and Yandy Diaz strike out a couple of times is kind of like a — you never see it. So, it speaks volumes to how good these guys are.”
The National League was held hitless until the bottom of the fourth inning, when New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto singled. Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (single in the eighth inning) and Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (single in the ninth) kept the NL from tying the record.
The National League wasn’t alone in its offensive struggles. The American League was limited to just seven hits and nine baserunners. The AL also struck out 12 times.
The game featured only one extra-base hit — a homer in the eighth inning by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas.
Vargas’ homer was the first scoring since the first inning, when New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger hit a two-run single, followed by New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice’s RBI single.
“The pitching today was nasty,” said Bellinger, who was named the game’s MVP. “It was hard to score runs.”
Bellinger watched the end of the game in the clubhouse and, around the fifth or sixth inning, decided to keep his jersey on because he thought he might be the MVP with just an RBI single.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: AL pitchers overpower NL, break All-Star Game strikeout record
