AL edges NL in All-Star Game thanks
to Jarren Duran
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[July 17, 2024]
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Shining the brightest on baseball's
biggest stage of the summer was a surreal moment for Boston Red Sox
outfielder Jarren Duran.
Duran was named All-Star Game MVP after delivering a go-ahead
two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to lead the
American League to a 5-3 victory over the National League on Tuesday
night.
"I'm just very thankful. It's hard to put into words," Duran said.
"It won't hit me until I try to go to sleep tonight. Who knows if
I'll be able to sleep tonight."
The AL has now won 10 of the past 11 All-Star Games to lead the
all-time series 48-44-2. It served as the home team at Globe Life
Field, home of the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers.
New York Yankees star Juan Soto had a two-run double and Cleveland
Guardians catcher David Fry added an RBI single as the AL overcame a
3-0 deficit.
Duran broke a 3-3 tie by sending a splitter from Hunter Greene over
the wall in right-center. Thanks to his go-ahead blast, Duran became
the fifth Red Sox player to win the MVP award, which is named after
Boston legend Ted Williams.
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"That's an honor," said Duran, who was among the 39 first-time
All-Stars this year. "Who else would I want to try and follow in the
footsteps of besides a guy like that, who is not just a great
baseball player but a great human being. That guy was awesome, and
I'm honored to be able to have his award."
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani provided the NL with its
3-0 lead with a three-run home run off Tanner Houck in the top of
the third. Ohtani became the first Dodgers player to go deep in the
Midsummer Classic since Mike Piazza did so in 1996.
"I haven't really hit well in the All-Star Game, so I'm just
relieved that I put the ball in play," Ohtani said. "I just focused
on having a regular at-bat as if I was in the regular season."
The AL answered in the bottom half of the third, scoring three runs
off San Francisco Giants right-hander Logan Webb. Soto drove in two
runs with a one-out double to center, then scored on a two-out
single by pinch hitter Fry.
After Houck's night came to an end, six AL relievers combined for
six scoreless innings to close out the game. Emmanuel Clase worked
around a two-out single in the ninth to earn the save.
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![](../images/071724PIX/sports11.jpg)
Jul 16, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; National League designated
hitter Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers (17) celebrates
after hitting a three run home run during the third inning during
the 2024 MLB All-Star game at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit:
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
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Rookie Mason Miller, who worked a perfect fifth
that included strikeouts of Ohtani and Trea Turner, got the win.
Miller is the third rookie pitcher to earn the win at an All-Star
Game and first since Dean Stone for the AL in 1954, according to
Elias. Miller also had eight pitches over 100 mph, including a
103.6-mph fastball to Turner, which is the fastest pitch in All-Star
Game history since pitch tracking began in 2008.
Greene was charged with the loss.
In the first inning, a matchup fans were craving to see unfolded, as
NL starter and Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes faced Yankees
superstar Aaron Judge. The battle lasted just one pitch, though, as
Judge grounded into a forceout to end the frame.
Skenes was the first rookie pitcher to start in an All-Star Game
since Hideo Nomo did so for the Dodgers in 1995.
"I don't think I blacked out when I was out there, but I was pretty
close," Skenes said. "It was cool to be on that mound."
Skenes added that his first pitch of the night was what stuck out to
him the most.
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Corbin Burnes got the nod for the AL.
He and Skenes each logged a scoreless first.
"It was fun," Burnes said. "There's really no words to express --
just the atmosphere, playing around the best players in the game."
The game was played in 2 hours, 28 minutes, the shortest All-Star
Game since 1988. The announced attendance was 39,343.
--Drew Davison, Field Level Media
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