NL Wins First All-Star Game Swing-Off to Defeat AL
2025 All-Star week in Atlanta continued on Tuesday with the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. Back in their teams’ jerseys for the first time since 2019, the National League All-Stars faced off against their American League counterparts at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
After the National League dominated the first six innings to go ahead 6-0, the American League struck for four in the seventh and two in the ninth to tie it up as this All-Star game ended in a 6-6 tie, leading to the first ever swing-off in All-Star Game history.
The National League All-Stars took the quick, early lead in the bottom of the first. It started with back-to-back singles by Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves), followed by a 2-RBI double by Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks).
Francisco Lindor’s first at-bat came in the bottom of the second. He struck out against Subway Series rival Carlos Rodón.
Pete Alonso replaced Freddie Freeman (Dodgers) at first base for the NL in the top of the third, joining Lindor as the second Met on the field.
Mets starter David Peterson replaced Logan Webb (Giants) on the mound in the top of the fourth. He gave up two singles but worked his way out of trouble to throw a scoreless inning. According to Michael Mayer of Metsmerized Online, with a scoreless frame, Peterson becomes the Mets’ first pitcher to throw a scoreless inning in the All-Star Game since Jacob deGrom in 2019. He is also the first Mets’ left-handed pitcher to throw a scoreless frame in the All-Star Game since Tom Glavine in 2004.
History continued for the Mets in the 2025 All-Star game in the bottom of the sixth as the National League began to run away with the game. After Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres) walked, Brendan Donovan (Cardinals) singled to put two on and set the stage for Alonso. Alonso then came up and opened the National League’s lead with a towering three-run home run to give the Nationals a 5-0 lead over the American League.
With that home run, Alonso became the third Met to hit a home run in the All-Star game, joining David Wright (2006) and Lee Mazzilli (1979). He also becomes the first Met with three RBIs in an All-Star Game.
“That was great!” said Alonso. “It’s an unbelievable environment here. Great job to the guys in front of me. Unbelievable base running from those guys, they set up the whole situation,” said Alonso.
Following Alonso, three batters later, Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks) homered to right center to extend the NL’s lead to 6-0.
The American League wasn’t going down quietly as they began to fight their way back into it in the seventh. A single by Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays) and a walk to Jonathan Aranda (Rays) put two on for Brent Rooker (Athletics). He hit a three-run home run to make it a 6-3 game.
Maikel Garcia then walked and later stole a base, followed by advancing to third on a throwing error in the inning. A groundout to the right side by Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals) scored Garcia to make it a 6-4 game.
With the game 6-4, Trevor Megill, the brother of Mets’ starter Tylor Megill, was in to pitch for the National League, who forced Steven Kwan (Guardians) to ground out to end the inning.
The American League got another run back in the ninth. Byron Buxton (Twins) doubled and was driven in by an RBI double by Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals) that made it a 6-5 game.
With the National League down by just one, Mets closer Edwin Díaz came in to replace Robert Suarez (Padres) on the mound. He got Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Yankees) to ground out to Olson, who tossed it to Díaz for the second out.
However, Díaz ended up losing the save opportunity when he gave up a weak RBI infield single to third to Kwan that tied it up 6-6 to send this All-Star game to the very first “swing-off” in MLB history.
- Brent Rooker (AL) – 2 Home Runs
- Kyle Stowers (NL) – 1 Home Run
- Randy Arozarena (AL) – 1 Home Run
- Kyle Schwarber (NL) – 3 Home Runs
- Jonathan Aranda (AL) – 0 Home Runs
With a score of 4-3, the National League won the first-ever swing-off to take the 2025 All-Star Game.
Alonso’s home run still proved to be a big moment, and had Aranda hit a home run in the tie-breaker, Alonso was due up next. But with Aranda going 0-3 on his three allotted swings, Alonso did not get a chance to come up.
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