2023 MLB All-Star Game Live Blog

It comes as a surprise to no one, but Rockies’ catcher Elias Díaz was named as the Most Valuable Player of the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. His go-ahead two-run dinger off of Felix Bautista in the eighth inning — in his first ever at-bat in an All-Star Game — was the difference in the ballgame.

He’s the first member of the Rockies to be named as the MVP of the All-Star Game.

With the American League trailing by a run heading to the ninth inning, long-time closer Craig Kimbrel made sure that the lead would stand up for the National League.

He got Wander Franco on a long fly out to right field and struck out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before issuing a two-out walk to Kyle Tucker.

That set up a showdown with hometown hero Julio Rodriguez, who took a 3-2 pitch for a walk to put the tying run in scoring position.

Kimbrel then struck out Jose Ramirez swinging to end it.

National League wins 3-2 — their first victory since 2012. It hasn’t been named yet, but Elias Diaz will almost certainly take home MVP honors for his mammoth contribution — a go-ahead two-run blast in the eighth inning.

Pablo Lopez took the hill for the American League in the top half of the ninth inning. He allowed a one-out single to Juan Soto and a two-out single to Nick Castellanos, but was able to strike out Elias Díaz to end the scoring chance.

We now head to the bottom of the ninth inning, with the American League needing one run to tie it. It’ll be Wander Franco, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kyle Tucker taking their hacks against Phillies’ closer Craig Kimbrel.

It looked like the American League would try to rally back off of Josh Hader in the eighth inning, as Whit Merrifield started the frame with a single to right field. Salvador Perez flew out to right though and then Brent Rooker smashed a bullet that third baseman Austin Riley speared, and gunned back to first to double off Merrifield.

The National League maintains its 3-2 edge heading to the ninth.

In his first ever at-bat in an All-Star Game, Elias Díaz clobbered a 2-2 splitter from Felix Bautista, crushing a 360-foot (93.3 mph EV) two-run blast over the wall in left field to give the National League their first lead of the night.

That was the extent of their scoring in the inning, even after Will Smith walked and swiped second base. We head to the bottom of the eighth with the National League on top 3-2.

Giants’ closer Camilo Doval looked every bit as dominant as he did during the first half of the season in his All-Star debut on Tuesday.

He got Kyle Tucker on a first-pitch fly out, then blew away hometown hero Julio Rodriguez on a 101.2 mph fastball before surrendering a two-out double to Jose Ramirez.

He then got Adley Rutschman on a line out to right field to end the inning.

It’s 2-1 heading to the eighth.

Keep in mind, if a save situation arises for the American League in this one, manager Dusty Baker has already told Kenley Jansen that he’ll be the one getting the ball in the ninth inning.

Jansen recorded 19 saves in the first half for the Red Sox while compiling a 3.23 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 36/13 K/BB ratio over his 30 2/3 innings of work.

The Nationals put pressure on the American League in the top half of the seventh, but failed to score.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. clubbed what looked to be a game-tying solo home run, but upon video review it was ruled to be just foul down the left field line.

He then reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a walk, but Michael Lorenzen got Juan Soto to pop out and Pete Alonso to strike out to end the threat.

The American League retook the lead in the home half of the sixth inning off of Reds’ right-hander Alexis Diaz.

Salvador Perez got things started with a one-out single into right field, and Brent Rooker followed with a ground-rule double that would have scored Perez had in not bounced over the wall in right field.

Bichette didn’t waste any time getting that run home, smacking the first pitch that he saw to deep right field to drive in Perez with the sacrifice fly.

It’s now 2-1 American League heading to the seventh.

The 29-year-old first-time All-Star looked every bit as dominant as he did during the first half of the regular season — striking out Matt Olson and Nick Castellanos on swinging third strikes to start the inning.

He then allowed Jorge Soler to reach on a throwing error from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and then allowed a single to Austin Riley on a 3-2 pitch that moved Soler up to third.

Cano battled back though, getting Ozzie Albies to bounce out to second to end the threat and keep the game tied at 1-1.

As an added bonus, he got to pitch to his regular catcher, as Adley Rutschman entered the game behind the dish to start the sixth inning.

The American League tried to get something going in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Austin Hays dropped a one-out single into center field off of Cubs’ southpaw Justin Steele, but he wound up stranded at second base.

Onto the sixth we go in a 1-1 ballgame.

Carlos Estévez delivered a dominant performance in his All-Star Game debut — working a perfect fifth inning to keep the score knotted up at one run apiece.

He fanned Corbin Carroll and Orlando Arcia each on swinging third strikes before getting Ronald Acuña Jr. on a weak ground ball.

Score remains 1-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth.

Alex Cobb — who made the All-Star team for the first time in his 13-year big league career — worked a scoreless fourth inning that included a strikeout of Randy Arozarena.

It looked like he could be in trouble, after issuing a leadoff walk to Shohei Ohtani — who then advanced to second on a wild pitch — but he rallied to strike out Arozarena swinging before getting Bo Bichette on a line out to right and Yandy Diaz on a ground ball to first.

Onto the fifth..

The National League All-Stars struck back against hometown right-hander George Kirby in the fourth inning. J.D. Martinez set the table with a leadoff double, then Luis Arrez drove him in with a sharp line drive single into right field. He was then cut down attempting to steal second base (after a video review).

We’re now knotted at 1-1 heading to the home half of the fourth.

The American League went down quietly in order against Nationals’ right-hander Josiah Gray in the third inning — including a strikeout of Jonah Heim. Not a bat All-Star debut for the 25-year-old hurler.

Sonny Gray had all of his pitches working during a scoreless top of the third inning, getting Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mookie Betts each on swinging third strikes — sandwiched around a two-out walk to Freddie Freeman.

It’s the third time that Sonny Gray has made an All-Star squad, but the first time that he has actually appeared in the game. He’ll certainly remember this one.

Yandy Díaz got the scoring started in the home half of the second inning, crushing a hanging breaking ball from Mitch Keller for a 383-foot (102.4 mph EV) solo shot to give the American League an early 1-0 edge.

The National League All-Stars threatened in the top half of the second inning off of Nathan Eovaldi, but failed to score.

J.D. Martinez led off the inning with a single, then to no one’s surprise, Luis Arraez dropped a single into center field. In doing so, he becomes the first hitter that’s hitting .383 or higher to get a hit in an All-Star Game since Nomar Garciaparra in 2000.

They would be stranded there though, as Sean Murphy took a called third strike and Corbin Carroll bounced out to first to end the threat. Onto the home half of the second..

With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Randy Arozarena collected the first hit in the All-Star game, but he was gunned down attempting to swipe second base. We’re scoreless heading to the second..

In doing so, he became the first player caught stealing in an All-Star Game since speed demon Lance Berkman way back in 2011.

We’re scoreless heading to the bottom of the first inning, thanks to a pair of defensive gems from Adolis Garcia and Randy Arozarena!