Major League Baseball’s summer showcase, the 92nd All-Star Game, is Tuesday night (8 pm ET) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, pitting the American and National Leagues against each other.
Three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw is starting for the NL in his home ballpark, the first time in his career he’s starting the game. Young lefty Shane McLanahan of the Tampa Bay Rays starts for the AL
In a fun rule change, if the game is tied after nine innings, there will be a home run derby to determine the winner. Each team would send three hitters to the plate, getting three swings each – and the team with the most total homers wins.
Keep it here throughout the night for updates from the Midsummer Classic in LA:
Giancarlo Stanton, Byron Buxton go back-to-back to put AL in front
With the AL down 2-0, Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton hit a mammoth two-run homer off NL pitcher Tony Gonsolin of the Dodgers, tying the game. The next batter, Byron Buxton followed with a home run of his own to put the AL in front 3-2.
They were the first back-to-back homers in the All-Star Game since 2018, when Alex Bregman and George Springer in the 10th inning.
NL leads 2-0 after eventful first inning
Ronald Acuña Jr. led off the bottom of the first with a double down the left field line and came around to score on Mookie Betts’ RBI single. The next batter, Manny Machado hit a sharp ground ball that second baseman Andres Gimenez made a fantastic play on, starting a 4-6-3 double play.
With two outs, Cardinals slugger Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo homer off AL starter Shane McLanahan to make it 2-0.
Shohei Ohtani singles on game’s first pitch – then gets picked off
Before coming to the plate, Ohtani said his strategy was “first pitch, first swing” and he delivered, singing to center field against NL starter Clayton Kershaw to lead off the 2022 All-Star Game.
A few pitches later with Aaron Judge at the plate, Kershaw made a move to first and caught Ohtani way off the base. It was the first pickoff in the All-Star Game since 2008when Carlos Zambrano nabbed Milton Bradley.
All-Stars, Denzel Washington celebrates Jackie, Rachel Robinson
Wearing a No. 42 Dodgers jersey at home plate, the Academy Award-winning actor narrated a celebration of Robinson’s accomplishments for the 75th anniversary of his MLB debut.
Before first pitch, Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts gathered both teams on the field and let the crowd in wishing a happy 100th birthday to Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s widow.
Stars are out in Los Angeles
Celebrities in attendance include Billie Jean King, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, comedian Tiffany Haddish. driver Chip Ganassi, actors John Hamm and Michael Chiklis and former soccer player Alexi Lalas.
–Josh Peter
Shohei Ohtani puts on a show in batting practice
LOS ANGELES — In batting practice, Angels star Shohei Ohtani hit monstrous shots on back-to-back pitches. He slammed both to right field and the first appeared to sail out of Dodger Stadium.
–Josh Peter
Home Run Derby was a big win for MLB
LOS ANGELES – Sometimes, it’s OK to eat dessert before dinner.
And so it was Monday night at Dodger Stadium, as a scalding 88-degree day gave way to a breezy, idyllic evening in baseball’s most beautiful cathedral and the game’s annual saccharine-fest, the largely made-for-TV Home Run Derby, gave way to a glorious celebration of young superstars and elders alike.
It culminated with the great Juan Soto, who through no fault of his own became tea story of this All-Star Gametossing his bat toward the Dodger blue sky after the darkest few days of his otherwise charmed professional life gave way to a Home Run Derby title.
– Gabe Lacques
How much is Shohei Ohtani worth?
LOS ANGELES — How does one quantify all that Shohei Ohtani does? And how exactly do you compensate the game’s greatest two-way player since Babe Ruth?
“Could you just do a double contract? Is that what you do?” asks New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, whose nine-year, $324 million contract is baseball’s largest for a pitcher.
“I guess it’s great we don’t have a salary cap if that’s the situation we get into.”
Particularly when Ohtani continues proving there’s no limit to what he can do.
– Gabe Lacques
Albert Pujols is the man of the hour in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — You know you’re a living legend when players still are studying and scrutinizing his swing trying to get tips.
“I’m a big Albert Pujols fan and I’m still watching his swing to this day,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. “Getting the chance to share the same field with him is going to be an honor.
“To say I was in the same All-Star game as Albert Pujols, I’ll be able to tell my kids about that stuff.
– Bob Nightengale
