MLB All-Star Game Recap

Travis Cuvelier is an avid sports fan and athlete with a strong love for baseball. He loves following statistics and analytics of the game and is considering a role in sports announcing for his professional career. This week, Travis Cuvelier enjoyed watching all of the fun and exciting events that took place during the 2016 MLB All-Star Game. 

The annual Major League Baseball All-Star festivities began on Monday with the home run derby, as Giancarlo Stanton hammered 61 home runs in three rounds, totaling over five miles and defeating defending champion Todd Frazier. The customary fun-filled softball game followed featuring former MLB stars and celebrities. But the main event came on Tuesday night, as the winning league would gain home field advantage in the World Series.

Chris Sale took the hill to for the American League, while Johnny Cueto got the nod for the National League. The NL got on the board first with a home run by Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs. The AL tied the game in the second with a home run by Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer. The AL continued to hammer Cueto in the second with another Royal doing the damage, as Salvador Perez belted a two run home run.

Corey Kluber and Cole Hamels kept the NL off the score board in the second and third, while the AL increased their lead in the third on an RBI single by Hosmer, scoring Edwin Encarnacion of the Blue Jays. Encarnacion entered the game as a pinch runner for David Ortiz,who started at DH and left his final All-Star game to an ovation and greetings from the entire AL squad.

The National League closed the gap to 4-2 off Aaron Sanchez of the Blue Jays. Marcel Ozuna, who is batting .307 with 17 home runs this season, singled home Giants catcher Buster Posey.

Pitching dominated the rest of the way, as Drew Pomeranz, Julio Teheran, Max Scherzer, Jon Lester, Mark Melancon, Fernando Rodney and Kenley Jansen allowed only a single AL hit over the final five innings.  For the AL, Jose Quintana, Kelvin Herrera, Dellin Betnaces, Andrew Miller, Will Harris and Zach Britton held the NL scoreless over the last five.

Corey Kulber recorded the win and John Cueto suffered the defeat. Daniel Murphy, who is batting .348 for the seaosn, went 2-for-3 for the NL, while Jackie Bradley Jr went 2-for-2 and Eric Hosmer, 2-for-3 for the AL.

The win was the third straight for the AL, following three in a row for the NL. The American League has dominated the MLB All Star-Game,  winning all but one from 1997 through 2009. 

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