Mason Miller Earns win in AL Victory

American League All-Stars win 5-3

The 94th Major League Baseball All-Star game took place tonight at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Donning some of the ugliest uniforms in all-star history and matching “trucker caps,” MLB continued the trend of requiring the players to wear standardized league uniforms instead of their own team unis as has been the rule since the 2021 game. But there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. During a meeting with the Baseball Writers Association of America Tuesday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged the desire to return to the old norm after four years of having players wear league-designed uniforms. Not the only uni-related controversy this year…

Corbin Burnes got the start for the American League. After walking Shohei Ohtani, he gave up a two out double to Bryce Harper, moving Ohtani to third. But Burnes former teammate William Contreras grounded back to him to end the inning.

Diamondbacks & National League manager Torey Lovullo tapped Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes to make his first All-star start. He was sharp, allowing just a walk to Juan Soto. He hit 100mph just once but looked strong in his debut.

Detroit’s Tarik Skubal relieved Burnes in the second inning. He moved quickly through the NL lineup 1-2-3. Atlanta Braves hurler Max Fried replaced Skenes for the National League in the second inning, allowing just a walk to Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez.

Tanner Houck relieved Skubal in the top of the third. Jurickson Profar singled, and Ketel Marte reached on a base hit. Shohei Ohtani then ripped a homer into the right field stands. It was a “no-doubter.” That gave the National league a 3-0 lead headed into the bottom of the third inning. Logan Webb entered the game to pitch. Quickly he gave up a single to Semien and walked Steven Kwan. Soto doubled in both runners to tighten the score to 3-2. Pinch hitting for Yordan Alvarez, Cleveland’s David Fry singled to score Soto, tying the game at 3 all.

Garrett Crochet entered to pitch the top of the fourth. The White Sox hurler has been frequently mentioned as a trade target going into the deadline. He gave up a single to the Phillies Alec Bohm but held the line for the rest of the inning. The Cubs 30-year-old rookie Shota Imanaga replaced Webb in the bottom half of the fourth. He made quick work of the American Leaguers sending them down in order.

The A’s Mason Miller made his All-star debut in the top of the fifth with the score tied at 3. Ketel Marte popped out to left field for the first out. Then Miller struck out both Shohei Ohtani and Trea Turner throwing eight pitches over one hundred mph.

Cincinnati Reds Hunter Greene replaced Imanaga. After quickly getting the first two outs of the inning, he gave up a base hit to Anthony Santander. Then Jarren Duran sent an 86 MPH splitter deep into the night in centerfield. That gave the American League a 5-3 lead and leaves the A’s lone representative as the current pitcher of record.

The Phillies Cristopher Sánchez and the Braves Reynaldo López combined to shut down the American League hitters in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Royals Seth Lugo entered the game to pitch the top of the seventh. He faced first-time All-Star Elly De La Cruz, who promptly singled to lead off the inning. Pirates Bryan Reynolds singled moving De La Cruz to second. But the Atlanta Braves Marcel Ozuna grounded out to end the threat.

The San Diego Padres righty Robert Suarez faced the first two batters of the bottom of the seventh for the National League, striking out both. The Phillies Matt Strahm came on to strike out Bobby Witt Jr. to end the inning and keep the AL’s lead at 5-3.

Kirby Yates, in his first season with the Texas Rangers came in to pitch the top of the eighth. He cut through the National League lineup like a hot knife through butter. The Miami Marlins closer Tanner Scott entered the game to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Scott is another pitcher likely to be on the move by the trade deadline. He got Anthony Santander to pop out to right field. Jarren Duran grounded out to second for out number two. That ended Scott’s first All-Star experience. Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman got the final out of the inning, turning the game over to the national league batters in the ninth.

Cleveland’s closer Emmanuel Clase entered the game to slam the door for the AL club. He entered tonight with twenty-nine saves and a 0.81ERA. He struck out Pete Alonso. Elly De La Cruz grounded out. Jackson Merrill singled on soft grounder up the first base line. But then Clase struck out Bryan Reynolds on three pitches to end the game and put the American League back in the win column. The Oakland Athletics Mason Miller gets the “W” in his first All-Star Appearance. What a great night for him and our fans across the (A’s) Nation!