Buxton and Stanton homer as AL wins ASG

*Photo from the Star Tribune*

   Last season, I said that the all star game has been a one sided affair for a little while. It continued this year. Giancarlo Stanton homered, Byron Buxton homered, and the AL all stars defeated the NL all stars with a 3-2 victory on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

   From the first pitch of the game, a Shohei Ohtani single, to him getting picked off minutes later, all the way to the final pitch, it was a fun event to watch as the AL pulled off a comeback win. It's 9 straight all star game wins for the AL, having not lost since the 2012 all star game. This time, it was thanks to back to back homers.

   Stanton said of playing the all star game in his native southern California, the stadium he attended games at as a kid, that "I can't really explain how special this is. It's hard to put into words that this is reality right now. It's really cool. I'm soaking it all in."

   Another memorable part of the night was MLB and Fox mic'ing up the players during the game. There were plenty of highlights, from Alek Manoah hooting and hollering while striking out the side, from Gerrit Cole and Max Fried talking to each other from opposite dugouts, to Nestor Cortes and Jose Trevino having a conversation mid at bat about how to approach hitters, it was everything a fan could want.

   The NL jumped out to an early lead on this one. Facing Shane McClanahan of the Tampa Bay Rays, Mookie Betts hit an RBI single to score Ronald Acuna Jr, and Paul Goldschmidt cranked a solo home run to left field, doubling the lead to 2-0.

   A few innings later, in the 4th inning, the AL bounced back. With Jose Ramirez on base, Stanton hit a no doubt two run home run to deep left center field, tying the game 2-2. The next batter was Buxton, hitting a no doubt solo home run to deep left field, putting the AL ahead 3-2, a lead they would not relinquish.

   Houston manager Dusty Baker said of Stanton, who won the all star game MVP, that "He's been a great player for a long time. The way he's looking, the way he's built, he should be around for an awful long time. I just regret that we have to play him in a doubleheader on Thursday, but for today, we're on the same side."

   McClanahan went one inning in his start for the AL, yielding the two runs. After that, the AL pitchers kept the NL quiet, with Alek Manoah, Framber Valdez, Paul Blackburn, Martin Perez, Cortes, Jorge Lopez, Gregory Soto, Clay Holmes, Liam Hendriks, and Emmanuel Clase came in. Valdez got the win, and Clase picked up the save.

   Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw started for the NL, going just the first inning. Tony Gonsolin got the loss after allowing 3 runs in his one inning of work, getting the loss. Despite that, everyone else who pitched kept the AL scoreless, which was a combination of Sandy Alcantara, Joe Musgrove, Luis Castillo, Joe Mantiply, Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, and David Bednar.

   Up next, after a day off on Wednesday, baseball's second half kicks off on Thursday, with 6 games lined up, including a double header between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros.