AL 5, NL 3: The American League wins his 10th all-star game over the last 11 meetings

Isaac Paredes goes 0-1, but the American League comes out victorious

The 94th edition of the all-star Game is here. Corbin Burnes will be starting for the American League, and on the other side of the rubber, the rookie sensation Paul Skenes will get the ball for the National League. Tonight Isaac Paredes will be the solitary representative of the Tampa Bay Rays. For the first time since 2021, a Tampa Bay Rays player will not be in the starting lineup for the American League (2022 Shane McClanahan, 2023 Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena). Paredes is receiving his much-deserved first all-star selection after being the most consistent player this season for the Rays, carrying the offense all season long.

Fun facts about the Rays and the All-star Game:

• Since 2019, every Tampa Bay Rays position player selected for the All-Star Game has recorded at least one hit. This includes Joey Wendle, Mike Zunino, Randy Arozarena, and Yandy Diaz.

• Issac Paredes is the first Rays third baseman to be selected to the all-star game since Evan Longoria in 2010.

• Since 2017, the Rays have had only one all-star on two occasions 2022 (Sane McClanahan), and 2024 (Isaac Paredes).
• Only three Rays’ players have hit a homer in the all-star game (Carl Crawford, Mike Zunino, and Yandy Diaz); two came in the last three editions.
• The Rays have provided only one all-star in thirteen different seasons. In those 13 occasions only in 2022 they went to the postseason.
• Carl Crawford is the only Ray to win the all-star MVP award (2007).

The All-Star Game

The game started with both pitching staffs dominating; however, Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani blasted a three-run shot to right field to put the NL ahead. In the bottom half of the 3rd inning, AL MVP candidate Juan Soto took matters into his own hands by producing a two-run double. Six pitches later, David Fry tied the game with a line drive single. After a couple of innings of dominant pitching, the young Mexican star Jarred Duran launched a ball over the right field wall to put the AL ahead after 5 frames, AL leads 5-3.

In his first and only at-bat, Paredes did not wait long and swung at the first pitch. He grounded out to the CJ Abrams who easily corralled the ball, and made the play to first base.

After all the scoring in the first five innings, there was not a bunch of action in the later part of the game. As always there is great pitching in the all-star game; however, since 2017, this is the first time that both teams have combined for more than 8 runs.

The game ended in a 5-3 victory for the AL, with Paredes doing his part ant third the rest of the game. The American League extends their lead to 48-44-2 winning 10 of the last 11 encounters.

After today’s fixture, there will be no baseball games for two consecutive days for the first time since late March. The Rays will head to the Bronx on Friday where they will be facing the New York Yankees in a three-game series. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 ET.