ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Boston’s Jarren Duran, the All-Star MVP, hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the fifth inning and the American League beat the National League 5-3 on Tuesday night for its 10th win in the past 11 All-Star Games.
Pittsburgh rookie Paul Skenes pitched a hitless first for the NL, twice hitting 100 mph, and Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the third for a 3-0 lead.
Juan Soto hit a two-run double and scored on David Fry’s single to tie the score in the third, and Duran went deep off Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene.
Oakland right-hander Mason Miller got the win after throwing a 103.6 mph pitch, the fastest in the All-Star Game since tracking began in 2008. Hard-throwing Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase struck out two in the ninth for the save.
The 22-year-old Skenes, who has pitched only 11 big league games since being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft last July, became the first rookie starter since 1995 and had the fewest games played for any player to make an All-Star team. The right-hander threw a hitless first, with a two-out walk to Soto before his Yankees teammate Aaron Judge grounded into a forceout on the next pitch.
Skenes threw 11 of 16 pitches for streaks, with seven fastballs up to 100.1 mph.
After the American League gained a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, Royals starters Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo each pitched an inning of scoreless relief in the sixth and seventh inning for the AL. The Royals duo of starters pitched to a familiar catcher, as Salvador Perez caught the final four innings of his ninth All-Star Game.
At the plate, Bobby Witt Jr. and Perez each went 0-for-1, both striking out swinging in their lone plate appearance.