American League defeats National League 4-0 in All-Star Game, Cody Bellinger named MVP
The American League won the All-Star Game 4-0 as pitching dominated, and Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger earned MVP honors after a two-run single.
The American League secured a 4-0 shutout victory in the All-Star Game, with pitching dominating both sides. Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease struck out the side in the first inning, and the AL staff recorded a total of 15 strikeouts, the only pitcher without a strikeout being Bryan Baker, who faced two batters. The National League managed a single run on a solo home run by Miguel Vargas, ending a five-year streak of alternating league wins in the midsummer classic.
Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger contributed the decisive offense, delivering a bases-loaded, two-run single in the first inning that proved enough for the MVP award. The 31-year-old has struggled offensively this season, posting a .663 OPS in June and a slump in July, but his recent performance against the Nationals helped the AL build an early lead.
Junior Caminero of the Rays was hit in the hand by a pitch in the third inning but avoided serious injury; X-rays showed no fracture and he is expected to play in the upcoming series. Both he and pitcher Riley O’Brien exchanged comments after the incident, describing the situation as a scare but noting no lasting damage.