July 13 (UPI) — The American League earned a 5-2 win over the National League in the 2021 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night at Coors Field in Denver.
Behind two-way star Shohei Ohtani’s perfect first inning and a 468-foot home run from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, the AL cruised to its eighth straight victory in the Midsummer Classic. The AL has now won 20 of the past 23 All-Star Games, not including a tie in 2002.
The 22-year-old Guerrero was named Most Valuable Player, becoming the youngest MVP in All-Star Game history.
Ohtani, who competed in the Home Run Derby a night earlier, was 0 for 2 at the plate, grounding out twice as the AL’s lead-off man and designated hitter. The Los Angeles Angels star, however, threw a spotless first inning on 14 pitches to earn the win.
The AL took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Marcus Semien of the Blue Jays scored New York Yankees star Aaron Judge on an infield single. In the third, Guerrero belted his mammoth home run — the 200th long ball in All-Star Game history — off Corbin Burnes of the Milwaukee Brewers to push the AL’s lead to 2-0.
Guerrero and Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts each plated a run in the fifth to extend the AL’s advantage to 4-0.
Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto made it 4-1 when he homered for the NL, which had eight hits at the hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Mike Zunino of the Tampa Bay Rays answered with a 433-foot home run in the sixth to put the AL ahead 5-1. San Diego Padres star Manny Machado scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-2, but the NL was unable to pull any closer.
NL starter Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals was perfect over one inning. He had one strikeout and threw 11 pitches.