Sights & sounds from Day 3 at the MLB All-Star Game
After a fun few days of activities, the big game finally arrived!
On Sunday, the day was packed with the Futures Game and MLB Draft. On Monday, the thrills came fast and furious in the Home Run Derby, with Pete Alonso holding off Shohei Ohtani and six other prolific sluggers to defend his title.
It was all an enticing buildup for Tuesday's All-Star Game, which featured two lineups stacked with some of the best talent the sport has to offer.
Max Scherzer took the mound as the NL starter, while the AL's Ohtani became the first player in All-Star Game history to pull double duty as both starting pitcher and leadoff hitter.
After both pitchers got the game started with shutout innings, the AL All-Stars scored consistently throughout the night to win 5-2.
Ohtani was the winning pitcher, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was named the MVP after a home run and two RBIs. He is the youngest MVP in the history of the All-Star Game.
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Here are the highlights from Day 3:
AL All-Stars 5, NL All-Stars 2
Before the game started, there were introductions for both the AL and NL rosters, and no player got a louder ovation than St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, who spent his first eight seasons as a member of the Colorado Rockies.
When the game began, Scherzer made quick work of the top of the vaunted AL lineup. He recorded three outs against Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Xander Bogaerts — and avoided a missile from Guerrero.
Ohtani responded with a three up, three down inning of his own, getting through the top of the NL lineup with relative ease.
It didn't take long to for the AL to get on the board, as they struck first in the top of the second inning, thanks to a Marcus Semien single that brought Aaron Judge home.
In the third inning, the AL squad doubled their lead with a 468-foot home run from Guerrero that left Fernando Tatis Jr. speechless.
That came 15 years after his father homered in the All-Star Game.
In the fifth inning, the AL scored two more runs to take a 4-0 lead via another RBI from Guerrero and an RBI single from Bogaerts.
The NL finally found their way on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, thanks to a solo home run from Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto.
But sure enough, the AL responded with another home run. This time, it came from the bat of Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino to give the AL a 5-1 lead.
Although home runs came in abundance, there were also signs of dominant pitching, most notably from Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta, who struck out the side in his one inning of work, becoming the first Brewer to accomplish that feat in the All-Star Game.
When it was all said and done, the AL came out on top 5-2 to secure their eighth consecutive win in the All-Star Game.
Also Tuesday, Ben Verlander produced a special-edition episode of the "Flippin' Bats" podcast straight from Denver, featuring his mission to meet Ohtani and interviews with several All-Stars, including Tatis, Aaron Judge and more.
Speaking of interviews with All-Stars, here's what MLBers had to say about two-way sensation Ohtani.
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On Monday at All-Star media day, Ben Verlander talked to MLB players about Shohei Ohtani’s amazing first half of the season. Hear just how blown away Ohtani's peers are by his performance.
As if that weren't exciting enough, Verlander caught up with the man himself on the purple carpet (more on that below). This was his big chance to ask the two-way star anything he wanted.
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Ben Verlander catches up with Shohei Ohtani on the MLB All-Star Game red (purple!) carpet to ask about his outfit, his most embarrassing career moment and who has the sweetest swing in baseball.
We also asked All-Stars what they would change if they could be commissioner for a day.
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Watch more than a dozen MLB All-Stars weigh in on which rules they would make — or do away with — if they were the commissioner for a day.
Verlander caught up with Tatis, who might or might not be the new face of baseball.
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Ben Verlander chats with San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. about being the face of MLB and what has caught his attention this season.
Meanwhile, Jordan Shusterman talked to first-time All-Stars about what this experience means to them.
Before the game, it was all about the purple carpet (purple like the Colorado Rockies — get it?), with stars, mascots and more coming through.
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Ben Verlander ran into Dinger, the Colorado Rockies mascot, on the All-Star Game red carpet and asked what gives him a leg up on the Phillie Phanatic as far as style.
Dinger's appearance was just the start of the fun. Ben also asked MLB's stars who has the sweetest swing in baseball …
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Ben Verlander is on the red carpet with countless MLB All-Stars and wants to know which player they think has the sweetest swing in the sport.
… and put them on the spot by asking them to share their most embarrassing moments.
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Ben Verlander catches up with several MLB All-Stars on the red carpet and asks them the question everybody wants to know: What was your most embarrassing baseball moment?
While all of that was going on, the third day of the MLB Draft was also happening. And the Angels did something momentous when they selected entirely pitchers with their 20 picks.
Then it was time for batting practice as the countdown to the game began.
As the hitters warmed up for their performances, so, too, did the MLB on FOX crew of Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Frank Thomas and Kevin Burkhardt.
All in all, it was an incredible day at Coors Field. Thanks for following along!