Shohei Ohtani accomplished an All-Star Game first in his storied career but the National League lost 5-3 to the American League at Globe Life Field.
The AL team bounced back from last year’s defeat and now have won the MLB All-Star Game in 10 of the last 11 years. Overall, AL All-Stars are 48-44-2 against the NL in Midsummer Classic history.
Ohtani’s three-run home run off Boston Red Sox All-Star Tanner Houck put the NL ahead 3-0 in the third inning. The All-Star Game home run was Ohtani’s first in four career selections.
Among Dodgers All-Stars, it was their first homer since Mike Piazza left the yard at Veterans Stadium in 1996 en route to earning MVP honors.
Ohtani finished 1-for-2 with the homer, one walk and one strikeout.
The lead he provided quickly evaporated as the AL team immediately responded with three runs in the bottom of the third off San Francisco Giants All-Star Logan Webb.
Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox then put the AL ahead for good with a two-run homer in the fifth inning that capped off a stretch of five unanswered runs.
Teoscar Hernández started in center field for the injured Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego Padres) but couldn’t build on winning the Home Run Derby as he went hitless in two at-bats.
Will Smith took over behind the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning and reached on an infield single with one out in the sixth. Freddie Freeman then pinch-hit but grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Smith went 1-for-2 and Freeman had just the one at-bat.
Fellow Dodgers All-Stars Tyler Glasnow (back tightness) and Mookie Betts (left hand fracture) did not play due to respective injuries. Betts also did not travel to Texas with his teammates.
The NL team put together a small threat in the seventh inning but left the tying runs on base. They had another opportunity in the ninth by getting the tying run to the plate with two outs.
Shohei Ohtani makes All-Star Game history
Ohtani made MLB All-Star Game history by becoming the first player to start four years in a row as the designated hitter. He additionally made MLB history as the first player to earn a win on the mound and hit a home run in his All-Star Game career.
Ohtani earned his All-Star Game win as a pitcher at Coors Field in 2021, when he pitched a scoreless first inning as the starter. That was also the same year Ohtani participated in the Home Run Derby, which he may do so again in future years.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
