Bellinger’s Decisive Hit Secures MVP Honour
Cody Bellinger, an outfielder, earned the MLB All-Star Game MVP award following a key performance that helped the American League to a 4-0 victory over the National League. Bellinger’s impactful play occurred early in the game, specifically in the top of the first inning. With the bases loaded, he hit a two-run single up the middle, driving in what would become the winning runs.
This marks Bellinger’s first time receiving the All-Star Game MVP award, achieved in his third appearance at the Midsummer Classic. Despite making outs in his two subsequent at-bats—a first-pitch fly out and a hard-hit line out—his initial contribution was enough to secure the honour. Bellinger is a former National League MVP, and his early game heroics highlighted the AL’s dominant performance.
American League Pitching Dominance
The American League‘s victory was largely attributed to a collective pitching effort that resulted in a shutout. A total of 11 pitchers combined to record 27 outs, allowing only three hits and two walks throughout the game. This strong performance led to the National League striking out an All-Star Game record 15 times.
Dylan Cease, the starting pitcher for the American League, set the tone early by striking out all three batters he faced in the first inning. Cease fanned Kyle Schwarber, Juan Soto, and CJ Abrams, with a walk also occurring in the inning. He achieved six misses among 15 swings during his outing. Cease is now one of only seven pitchers to strike out three batters in an All-Star opening inning, joining a list that includes notable names such as Carl Hubbell and Pedro Martinez.
Before his start, Cease considered opening with a changeup but was advised against it by Justin Verlander, the senior AL All-Star. He ultimately started with a 96.9 mph four-seamer to Schwarber. The AL manager, John Schneider, who also manages Cease in Toronto, commented on the impressive pitching, noting that the bullpen pitchers fed off each other’s excitement.
The National League‘s only hits came from singles by Soto in the fourth inning, Pete Crow-Armstrong in the eighth, and Otto Lopez in the ninth. The NL was unable to advance a runner past first base. This shutout marks the 10th All-Star shutout and the first since the AL‘s 2-0 win in 2013 at New York’s Citi Field.
The American League has now won 18 of the last 23 All-Star Games, holding an overall advantage of 49-45-2. The game also featured a unique pre-game ceremony where managers and starters signed an oversized lineup card with a feathered quill, and a video of children interacting with All-Stars on the field after the fourth inning, narrated by J.K. Simmons.
During the game, Junior Caminero of Tampa Bay left in the third inning after being hit on the outside of his left hand by a 97.6 mph sinker from St. Louis closer Riley O’Brien. X-rays on Caminero’s hand were negative.
Mike Trout, a 12-time All-Star who had not played in the game since 2019 due to injuries, went 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
