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There’s No Tying in Baseball: Kyle Schwarber Wins All-Star Home Run Battle
Baseball is getting better at marketing its big stars like Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, and Shohei Ohtani.
They were on display last night at the All-Star Game in Atlanta, and another good idea is making sure the game has a winner.
Taking a cue from soccer, a home-run shootout decided the 6-6 ballgame, and the National League won thanks to MVP Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies.
SIX FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
The National League stars roughed up AL starter Tarik Skubal in the first inning with a two-run double by Ketel Marte.
The pitchers dominated on both sides until the sixth, when the NL erupted for four more runs.
Pete Alonso of the Mets blasted a three-run homer, and Arizona’s Corbin Carroll added a solo shot to put the NL on top 6-0.
SIX FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE
Brent Rooker of the Athletics cut the lead in half with a three-run homer in the seventh inning.
Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals reduced the NL’s advantage to 6-5 with an RBI groundout in the seventh and a run-scoring double in the ninth.
Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians hit an infield single to score Witt with the tying run.
TIEBREAKER TIME
Here’s how it works. The AL and NL managers choose three hitters each. They get three swings apiece, so a perfect score is nine.
Brent Rooker hit two for the AL. Kyle Stowers hit one for the NL.
Randy Arozarena increased the AL lead to 3-1. Then Schwarber went to work.
Three swings, three Schwarbombs.
With the NL in the lead 4-3, Tampa Bay’s Jonathan Aranda needed one dinger. He only managed to hit the top of the right-field wall.
It was an entertaining finish to nearly four hours of All-Star action. Schwarber won the MVP award.
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