AL keeps On Rolling

Records were flying all over the place at the 89th All Star Game in Washington last night. For the sixth straight year and the 2nd straight year in extra innings, the American League came out on top in the mid summer classic! This turned into a historic slugfest in the American League's 8-6 win, as the two teams combined for an All-Star Game record of 10 home runs, thus shattering the old record of six, which was set in 1951, 1954, and 1971. Baseballs were flying out of Nationals Park like it was going out of style.

Aaron Judge of the Yankees got things started with a shot off Max Scherzer. Mike Trout followed with a shot off Jacob deGrom to give the AL a 2-0 lead. Willson Contreras and Trevor Story then followed with homers for the National league to even the game at two.. The seemingly decisive blow came off the bat of Mariners shortstop Jean Segura, who went deep on Josh Hader in the eighth to turn a 2-2 tie into a 5-2. Should have ended earlier in the at bat, but Joey Votto mishandled a foul pop by the dugout. The NL wouldn't go away quietly. Christian Yelich pulled the National League within two runs, then in the bottom of the ninth, Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett cracked a two run shot to get the game even and send it to extra innings.

That's when it turned into the Astro Show! Game MVP Alex Bregman hit a go ahead solo shot off Ross Stripling of the Dodgers. Then it was followed up by Astros teammate George Springer. Capping off the scoring for the AL was Michael Brantley hitting a sac fly scoring Jean Segura. Joey Votto of the Reds got the NL within two by hitting a solo shot in the bottom of the tenth but that's all the NL would get as they ran out of time, falling for the 6th straight year. Because he was able to hit the tie breaking home run in the tenth, Bregman was named MVP of the game.He became the first Houston player to cope the award in the games 89 year history. He also became the 4th 3rd baseman to ever win the award, joining Brooks Robinson in 1966, Tony Perez in 1967 and Bill Madlock in 1975 as the only 3rd baseman to capture the award.

As a result, the AL prevailed for the sixth straight year and for the second straight year in extras. The overall series tally remains impossibly tight. The AL now leads 44-43-2, and over that span they've outscored the NL by just two runs.

Next year's All Star game will be held on July 16th at Progressive Field in Cleveland!