Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke took his MLB-best 1.39 ERA into the 2015 All-Star Game as he hoped to get the National League team off to a good start. Mike Trout had other ideas.
The Los Angeles Angels outfielder smacked a home run off Greinke in the first at-bat of the night and became the first to hit a leadoff bomb in the All-Star Game since Bo Jackson did it in 1989. Trout's 1-for-3 effort with two runs scored and a walk earned him his second consecutive All-Star Game MVP honors.
It was the first time in baseball history a player has won back-to-back MVP awards in the event. He joined Cal Ripken Jr., Gary Carter, Steve Garvey and Willie Mays as the only players to win multiple ASG MVPs.
Here's a video of Trout's first-inning shot:
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta answered Trout's homer in the bottom of the second with an RBI single, but the AL took the lead again in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI single from Texas Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder and an RBI double from Kansas City Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain.
Both of those runs came off Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw.
Greinke and Kershaw surrendered a combined three earned runs on four hits and two walks in three innings of work. The Dodgers' aces had an uncharacteristic night in Cincinnati on Tuesday.
The AL never lost the lead after that inning, but the NL answered in the bottom of the sixth with a home run from Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen. Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Chris Archer left McCutchen a hanging slider, which was crushed into the left field seats, but the NL bullpen couldn't help keep them in it.
After a lights-out inning from New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom (10 pitches, nine strikes, three strikeouts), Milwaukee Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez gave up two runs on one hit and one walk in the seventh. Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado ripped an RBI double right center and Fielder recorded his second RBI with a sacrifice fly. Then Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier extended the AL's lead to 6-2 with a solo shot off of Pittsburgh Pirates closer Mark Melancon in the eighth.
The NL added another run in the bottom of the ninth, but it was too late. Minnesota Twins closer Glen Perkins closed out the night by getting San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik to line out to left field.
Detroit Tigers left-hander David Price got the win (he pitched a scoreless third inning) and Kershaw was handed the loss.
The American League will now have home-field advantage in this year's World Series. The crowd at the Great American Ballpark received a memorable show on Monday night with Todd Frazier's dramatic Home Run Derby victory as well as a rare appearance from baseball's all-time hits leader and former Cincinnati Reds legend, Pete Rose, before tonight's game, but the NL couldn't hit the trifecta for the home crowd.
It's the third straight loss for the NL All-Stars after falling 5-3 in 2014 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and 3-0 in 2013 at Citi Field in Flushing, New York. Since 1997 the NL has won only three times (2010-2012). They were the favorites heading into tonight's matchup, but the AL's offense outmatched the stout NL pitching staff, which recorded 15 strikeouts (the most by a team in the ASG that didn't go into extra innings).
The MLB will have a day off on Wednesday and resume action this Friday.
