PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia waited 30 years for another All-Star Game.
It took 34 pitches for the competitive portion of it to all but disappear.
Cristopher Sánchez surrendered three runs in the first inning, Cody Bellinger supplied the decisive hit and the American League silenced the National League, 4-0, before a sellout crowd of 43,916 on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.
For five days, Philadelphia had served as the center of the baseball world. On the final night of All-Star Week, however, the hometown players produced few reasons for the crowd to erupt.
Sánchez’s difficult opening inning established the direction of the game.
After striking out Millville native Mike Trout, the Phillies left-hander allowed a single to Yordan Alvarez and walked Shea Langeliers. Sánchez retired Junior Caminero, but a two-out walk to Bobby Witt Jr. loaded the bases.
Bellinger then lined a two-run single into center field, scoring Alvarez and Langeliers. Yankees teammate Ben Rice followed with another single to bring home Witt and extend the American League lead to 3-0 before the National League had taken its first swing.
Bellinger’s hit proved to be the defining moment. He was named the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player after driving in the first two runs of the night.
Sánchez eventually escaped the inning by striking out Riley Greene, but only after throwing 34 pitches and allowing three hits, two walks and three runs.
National League manager Dave Roberts attributed the rough inning more to the emotion of the moment than to any significant issue with Sánchez’s arsenal.
“I think that with Cristopher, it was very emotional for him pitching here, being a starter of the game,” Roberts said. “It’s not a normal start, so he just wasn’t as sharp with his command as he normally is. But it’s one of those things that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so it just kind of happened that way.”
It was a rare stumble in a ballpark where Sánchez has developed into one of baseball’s best starting pitchers. It also left the National League attempting to erase a deficit against an American League pitching staff that never provided a legitimate opportunity.
Dylan Cease struck out three in the opening inning, beginning a procession of 11 AL pitchers who combined for 15 strikeouts and permitted only three singles. No National League runner advanced beyond first base.
Juan Soto singled in the fourth, Pete Crow-Armstrong added a hit in the eighth and Otto Lopez singled in the ninth. That was the entirety of the NL offense.
The three hits were the fewest by an All-Star team since the National League also managed three in 2013. The shutout was the first in the Midsummer Classic since 2013.
Philadelphia’s position players could not change the course of the game.
Kyle Schwarber started at designated hitter and finished 0-for-2 with a strikeout. Brandon Marsh struck out in both of his at-bats before leaving in the sixth.
Bryce Harper entered as a pinch hitter in the sixth and faced Cade Smith. Harper chased an 88 mph splitter that dove sharply inside and nearly reached his feet. He challenged the call, but the ruling was upheld, completing another strikeout.
Together, Harper, Schwarber and Marsh went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts. Jesús Luzardo delivered the cleanest performance among the Phillies’ representatives, retiring all three hitters he faced in a six-pitch fourth inning.
The local connections on the American League roster also went quietly.
Trout finished 0-for-3 in his first All-Star Game appearance since 2019. Delaware County native Kevin McGonigle, making his All-Star debut during his rookie season, went 0-for-2.
The night’s most frightening moment came in the third inning when Cardinals reliever Riley O’Brien hit Caminero on the left hand with a 98 mph sinker.
Caminero dropped immediately, remained on the ground and then ran directly into the American League clubhouse. X-rays were negative, preventing what could have been a significant interruption to his spectacular season.
“I honestly thought something might have been broken,” Caminero said through an interpreter, “but thank you to God that everything’s fine.”
O’Brien later visited Caminero in the clubhouse to apologize. Caminero told him the pitch was part of the game.
Miguel Vargas, who entered as Caminero’s replacement, supplied the final run in the eighth. Vargas drove a solo homer into the second deck in left field, the game’s only extra-base hit, to push the advantage to 4-0.
The last distinctly Philadelphia moment arrived with one out in the ninth.
Jhoan Durán entered from the National League bullpen, giving the crowd a chance to experience the flames, darkened lights and music that accompany his appearances during Phillies home games.
The production missed its cue.
Durán began jogging toward the field with the lights dimmed but the ballpark strangely silent. The music eventually began, but only after the entrance had lost its timing.
“It was special to be able to do it here, in front of my fans,” Durán said.
The entrance may have misfired, but the sentiment captured the larger night.
Despite the result, Roberts appreciated the opportunity to feature the Phillies throughout the night, from Sánchez starting the game to Durán recording the final outs.
“It was great,” Roberts said. “I think having him start, having Durán finish the game — it’s the host city, and the city of Philadelphia with Major League Baseball did a fantastic job all week. And then for us to be able to get Harper in there, to lead Schwarber off and to get Marsh in there.
“Honestly, we didn’t win the game as far as the National League, but it was just a great production, and it was good to get everyone in there.”
Dylan Cease struck out three in the opening inning, beginning a procession of 11 AL pitchers who combined for 15 strikeouts and permitted only three singles. No National League runner advanced beyond first base.
Juan Soto singled in the fourth, Pete Crow-Armstrong added a hit in the eighth and Otto Lopez singled in the ninth. That was the entirety of the NL offense.
The three hits were the fewest by an All-Star team since the National League also managed three in 2013. The shutout was the first in the Midsummer Classic since 2013.
Philadelphia’s position players could not change the course of the game.
Kyle Schwarber started at designated hitter and finished 0-for-2 with a strikeout. Brandon Marsh struck out in both of his at-bats before leaving in the sixth.
Bryce Harper entered as a pinch hitter in the sixth and faced Cade Smith. Harper chased an 88 mph splitter that dove sharply inside and nearly reached his feet. He challenged the call, but the ruling was upheld, completing another strikeout.
Together, Harper, Schwarber and Marsh went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts. Jesús Luzardo delivered the cleanest performance among the Phillies’ representatives, retiring all three hitters he faced in a six-pitch fourth inning.
The local connections on the American League roster also went quietly.
Trout finished 0-for-3 in his first All-Star Game appearance since 2019. Delaware County native Kevin McGonigle, making his All-Star debut during his rookie season, went 0-for-2.
The night’s most frightening moment came in the third inning when Cardinals reliever Riley O’Brien hit Caminero on the left hand with a 98 mph sinker.
Caminero dropped immediately, remained on the ground and then ran directly into the American League clubhouse. X-rays were negative, preventing what could have been a significant interruption to his spectacular season.
“I honestly thought something might have been broken,” Caminero said through an interpreter, “but thank you to God that everything’s fine.”
O’Brien later visited Caminero in the clubhouse to apologize. Caminero told him the pitch was part of the game.
Miguel Vargas, who entered as Caminero’s replacement, supplied the final run in the eighth. Vargas drove a solo homer into the second deck in left field, the game’s only extra-base hit, to push the advantage to 4-0.
The last distinctly Philadelphia moment arrived with one out in the ninth.
Jhoan Durán entered from the National League bullpen, giving the crowd a chance to experience the flames, darkened lights and music that accompany his appearances during Phillies home games.
The production missed its cue.
Durán began jogging toward the field with the lights dimmed but the ballpark strangely silent. The music eventually began, but only after the entrance had lost its timing.
“It was special to be able to do it here, in front of my fans,” Durán said.
The entrance may have misfired, but the sentiment captured the larger night.
Despite the result, Roberts appreciated the opportunity to feature the Phillies throughout the night, from Sánchez starting the game to Durán recording the final outs.
“It was great,” Roberts said. “I think having him start, having Durán finish the game — it’s the host city, and the city of Philadelphia with Major League Baseball did a fantastic job all week. And then for us to be able to get Harper in there, to lead Schwarber off and to get Marsh in there.
“Honestly, we didn’t win the game as far as the National League, but it was just a great production, and it was good to get everyone in there.”
Philadelphia received its showcase. The city filled the ballpark, welcomed the sport and celebrated six Phillies All-Stars along with two stars who grew up in the region.
It just never received the performance it wanted.
The stage belonged to Philadelphia.
The game — and the MVP trophy — belonged to Bellinger and the American League.
It just never received the performance it wanted.
The stage belonged to Philadelphia.
The game — and the MVP trophy — belonged to Bellinger and the American League.
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