With home runs by the Dominican Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Mike Zunino, the American League beat the National 5 × 2 this Tuesday in the All-Star Game of Major League Baseball, held at Coors Field in Denver (Colorado).
The Dominican Guerrero was chosen the JVP (Most Valuable Player) of the match.
This was the eighth victory in a row for the Young Circuit, since the Nacional has not won since 2012, when it blanked 8 × 0.
The victory went to the Japanese Shohei Ohtani (1-0) and the reverse for Corbin Burnes (0-1), who endured Guerrero’s homer. The save went to Liam Hendriks (1).
For the Old Circuit, stellar receiver JT Realmuto homered in the fifth against Dominican Gregory Soto.
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An Ohtani throwing 100 miles per hour and a decisive Warrior gave the victory to the Japanese who became the first two-way All-Star of the Majors (pitcher and batter).
Near and far, the entire focus of the sport was on Ohtani from the beginning. Players on both sides climbed onto the dugout rails to watch him, and the Japanese sensation went 2-0 on offense as a designated hitter but took the win as a pitcher.
Ohtani is hitting .279 with 33 homers, leading in the majors so far this season. The home runs are a season record for a Japanese-born player and an Angels record before the All-Star break. He is 4-1 with a 3.49 ERA in 13 starts on the mound this season.
Outfielder Jared Walsh, Ohtani’s teammate on the Angels, saved a possible NL comeback in the eighth with his glove on a slip catch as they had the bases loaded.
Slugger Zunino also connected for the American League, which improved to 46-43-2 overall in the series.
Ohtani is a two-way player who hadn’t been seen since Babe Ruth in 1919 and 1920, before the Bambino largely left the mound for being slugging.
“This has been the best experience, the most memorable,” the Japanese said through the translator. “Obviously, I’ve never played in the playoffs or the World Series, but this was the most memorable (All-Star Game.”
Ohtani teamed with Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, Nathan Eovaldi, Gregory Soto, Chris Bassitt, Andrew Kittredge, Matt Barnes and Liam Hendriks for eight hits.
Ohtani also became the second consecutive Japanese pitcher to win the All-Star Game after Masahiro Tanaka of the Yankees two years ago.
Last year’s game was canceled when the pandemic delayed the start of the season until the end of July. (AFP)