89TH MAJOR-LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME: AL wins unofficial home run derby

Alex Bregman (2) of the Houston Astros is congratulated by Houston teammate George Springer after his home run in the 10th inning Tuesday night gave the American League the lead in the All-Star Game. Springer followed with a home run.
Alex Bregman (2) of the Houston Astros is congratulated by Houston teammate George Springer after his home run in the 10th inning Tuesday night gave the American League the lead in the All-Star Game. Springer followed with a home run.

WASHINGTON -- A record 10 home runs. A slew of strikeouts.

The all-or-nothing All-Star Game mirrored what baseball has become.

Astros teammates Alex Bregman and George Springer homered on consecutive pitches to begin the 10th inning, and the American League beat the National League 8-6 on Tuesday night for its sixth victory in a row.

Standard operation nowadays, right?" said AL manager A.J. Hinch of Houston. "We're going to homer and punch out as an industry.

"There's a great love affair with both results. I mean, to kind of empty your tank and hit homers tonight at this event is probably the best thing imaginable."

Mike Trout, Aaron Judge and Jean Segura also connected for the AL in a game where every run except one scored on a home run.

Scooter Gennett hit a tying two-run drive off Seattle closer Edwin Diaz in the bottom of the ninth. Joey Votto, Willson Contreras, Trevor Story and Christian Yelich also went deep for the NL.

There had never been more than six home runs in an All-Star Game since Babe Ruth hit the very first one in 1933.

Not that everything went the sluggers' way. Starters Max Scherzer and Chris Sale and the relievers combined to fan 15 in the first 4 1/2 innings, and there were 25 strikeouts overall.

Fitting, because this season is on pace to become the first with more strikeouts than hits, a year after a record number of home runs.

"You're facing power pitchers right now, so that's kind of what you expect: hit-or-miss with these guys," Boston's J.D. Martinez said.

Martinez, who leads the majors in home runs and RBI, singled and struck out in his two at-bats.

Orioles shortstop Manny Machado had fun, pulling out a camera to snap a selfie at second base after Matt Kemp doubled. By today, they could be teammates -- Baltimore seems ready to trade Machado, with the Dodgers and Phillies in the mix.

Major League Baseball, meanwhile, seemed to take a selfie of itself at this game, with all the home runs and strikeouts.

A day after hometown star Bryce Harper electrified the crowd by winning the Home Run Derby, it was eerily quiet for most of the evening at Nationals Park. Harper didn't excite the fans, either, fanning in his two at-bats.

The only thing missing was a bevy of defensive shifts. Overloaded infields are the norm now, but Hinch of Houston and NL Manager Dave Roberts of the Dodgers pretty much played things straight up.

Bregman and Springer homered off losing pitcher Ross Stripling of the Dodgers -- that's kind of how last year ended, too, with Houston battering Los Angeles pitchers in the World Series.

"I've seen it before. I haven't seen it before in an All-Star Game like this," Hinch said. "Pretty proud of them."

Bregman smiled all around the bases and earned MVP honors.

Segura's three-run home run in the eighth landed in the bullpen and broke a 2-2 tie. The Seattle infielder popped up the previous pitch, but Votto -- Cincinnati's reliable first baseman -- dropped it for an error as he approached the dugout railing.

Segura then connected off Milwaukee's Josh Hader, one of baseball's most dominant relievers.

Judge homered in the second off Scherzer, the Nationals ace who became the first reigning Cy Young Award winner to start an All-Star Game in his home park.

"It's tough to barrel up some balls when you've got some of the best pitchers in the game throwing against you and you don't really have a scouting report," Judge said. "You're just going up there swinging."

Trout kept up his All-Star excellence, tagging Mets righty Jacob deGrom. A two-time MVP in this event, Trout is 7 for 15 with 5 extra-base hits and 3 walks in these games.

Diaz wound up with the victory, and Toronto's J.A. Happ got a save after giving up Votto's home run.

The AL won for the 18th time in 21 games played to a decision, and leads the series 44-43-2. Not since the early 1960s has the AL been ahead.

photo

AP/ALEX BRANDON

Seattle Mariners shortstop Jean Segura, a former Arkansas Traveler who won the American League’s fi nal roster spot in fan voting, celebrates his three-run home run in the eighth inning of the American League’s 8-6, 10-inning victory over the National League on Tuesday in the All-Star Game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

Sports on 07/18/2018

At a glance

ALL-STAR GAME RESULTS

2018 AL 8 at NL 6,

2017 AL 2, NL 1 (10)

2016 AL 4, NL 2

2015 AL 6, NL 3

2014 AL 5, NL 3

2013 AL 3, NL 0

2012 NL 8, AL 0

2011 NL 5, AL 1

2010 NL 3, AL 1

2009 AL 4, NL 3

2009 AL 4, NL 3

2008 AL 4, NL 3 (15)

2007 AL 5, NL 4

2006 AL 3, NL 2

2005 AL 7, NL 5

2004 AL 9, NL 4

2003 AL 7, NL 6

2002 AL 7, NL 7 (11)

2001 AL 4, NL 1

2000 AL 6, NL 3

1999 AL 4, NL 1

1998 AL 13, NL 8

At a glance

ALL-STAR GAME MVP LIST

YR.;POS;NAME;TEAM

2018;TBA

2017;2B;Robinson Cano;Seattle

2016;1B;Eric Hosmer;Kansas City

2015;OF;Mike Trout;LA Angels

2014;OF;Mike Trout;LA Angels

2013;P;Mariano Rivera;NY Yankees

2012;OF;Melky Cabrera;San Francisco

2011;1B;Prince Fielder;Milwaukee

2010;C;Brian McCann;Atlanta

2009;OF;Carl Crawford;Tampa Bay

2008;OF;J.D. Drew;Boston

2007;OF;Ichiro Suzuki;Seattle

2006;SS;Michael Young;Texas

2005;SS;Miguel Tejada;Baltimore

2004;OF;Alfonso Soriano;Texas

2003;OF;Garret Anderson;Anaheim

2002;No award given

2001;SS/3B;Cal Ripken Jr.;Baltimore

2000;SS;Derek Jeter;NY Yankees

1999;P;Pedro Martinez;Boston

1998;2B;Roberto Alomar;Baltimore

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