American League defeats NL 8-6 in All-Star Game slugfest

[July 18, 2018]  George Springer hit back-to-back homers in the top of the 10th inning as the American League scored three runs and pulled out an 8-6 victory over the National League on Tuesday night at Nationals Park in Washington.

The American League now has won six consecutive All-Star Games. There were 10 homers hit overall, five from each team, a new All-Star record.

Bregman, honored afterward as the game's Most Valuable Player, homered to lead off the 10th against Ross Stripling of the Dodgers, and Springer blasted his on the following pitch to give the AL a 7-5 lead. Jean Segura of the Mariners, who hit a three-run homer earlier, scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly from the Indians' Michael Brantley.

"I was just trying to put it in play and was fortunate that it got out," Bregman said in a TV interview.

Springer also kept things simple when he came to the plate moments later.

"This is kind of one of those things where he had a big swing, and I'm looking to hit a ball hard," Springer said in a TV interview.

Joey Votto of the Reds, who dropped a Segura foul pop-up that allowed the Seattle star to slug his three-run homer, homered off J.A. Happ from the Blue Jays in the 10th to make it 8-6, but the American League held on.

Happ earned the save, and Edwin Diaz of the Mariners got the win.

Aaron Judge of the Yankees started the scoring in the second inning with a lead-off homer against Washington's Max Scherzer, who started the game against left-hander Chris Sale from the Red Sox.

Mike Trout from the Angels extended it to 2-0 in the third when he hit a solo homer off Jacob deGrom of the Mets.

The National League answered in the bottom half when Cubs catcher Willson Contreras homered against Tampa Bay's Blake Snell. That cut the lead to 2-1.

American League infielder Alex Bregman (2) of the Houston Astros (2) poses with the MVP trophy after the 2018 MLB All Star Game at Nationals Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Trevor Story of Colorado tied the game in the seventh with a solo shot against Houston's Charlie Morton. After Segura's three-run homer in the eighth, Christian Yelich of the Brewers hit another solo homer off Morton in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 5-3.

Scooter Gennett of the Reds tied the game in the ninth with a two-run homer off Diaz.

Also, if various media reports are correct, Baltimore shortstop Manny Machado played as an Oriole for the last time. Numerous outlets are saying he'll be headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers, possibly as early as Wednesday. He went 0-for-2 in this game.

"It was a tremendous honor to wear this uniform. They gave me the opportunity to play in the big leagues," Machado said during a midgame TV interview. "That's everyone's dream, they gave me that. They gave me the opportunity to play shortstop again. The organization has done everything (for me).

"So if this is the last time (wearing an Orioles uniform) ... hopefully I did everything I could for the organization."

--Field Level Media

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.