The American League shut out the National League 4-0 in Major League Baseball's annual All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, in a night defined by overpowering pitching.
It was the first shutout in the Midsummer Classic in 13 years, according to ESPN. The National League's hitters were held to just three singles across the game and never got a runner as far as second base, as a procession of American League pitchers, beginning with the starter Dylan Cease, carved through the lineup. Between them the two sides combined for a record number of strikeouts for a nine-inning All-Star Game.
An early lead
The American League needed little time to take control, scoring three runs in the first inning. Cody Bellinger, the New York Yankees outfielder, drove in two with a single, and further hitting extended the advantage before the National League had settled.
That early cushion was more than enough given how the pitching unfolded. The American League added a late run to reach 4-0, and its bullpen preserved the shutout to the finish.
Bellinger honored
Bellinger was named the game's most valuable player for his contribution at the plate. The award capped a strong night for a player who has become a central figure for the Yankees.
A pitchers' showcase
All-Star Games in recent years have often been high-scoring affairs, making a shutout a rarity worth noting. This edition ran the other way, turning into a display of pitching depth in which neither the National League's stars nor a sellout crowd could conjure much offense. For the American League, it was a comfortable night; for the National League, a frustrating one, and a reminder of how quickly a lineup of All-Stars can be silenced when the arms on the other side are in form.
