While all the hype was around Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani heading into the All-Star Game, it was the guy batting behind him who stole the show.
Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was named the All-Star Game MVP after driving in two runs, including a 468-foot solo home run, en route to a 5-2 American League victory over the National League at Coors Field in Denver.
Guerrero’s mammoth shot deep into the left-center field seats came in the top of the third inning, which put the AL up 2-0.
The home run also made Guerrero and his father to become the third father-son combo to homer in the All-Star Game, joining Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr. and Bobby and Barry Bonds.
He drove in another run in the fifth inning on an RBI groundout, which put the AL up 3-0 at the time. Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts followed that with an RBI single to make it 4-0, AL.
Guerrero also made some noise in his first at-bat, ripping a 111.1 mph line drive right at the head of Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer, who barely evaded getting hit. Guerrero ran over to him afterward to give him a hug to show all is well.
The NL got on the board in the fifth when Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto homered to center field, but the AL responded the next inning when Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino hit an opposite-field home run off New York Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker.
The NL looked poised to possibly take the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was up with two outs and the bases loaded in a 5-2 game. Bryant swung at a 3-0 pitch from Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes and lined it into left field where Angels outfielder Jared Walsh made a sliding catch to end the threat.
Ohtani did get the win, as Marcus Semien’s RBI groundout in the first inning gave him a 1-0 lead when he came out of the game.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram