All-Star Game National League scores first victory since 2012

(Seattle) Elias Diaz hit a two-run home run in the eighth and the National League won its first All-Star Game since 2012 on Tuesday, defeating the American League 3-2.

The first receiver in Rockies history to be named an All-Star, Diaz hit the long ball off Felix Bautista of the Orioles.

Nick Castellanos of the Phillies was on first base on a walk.

Diaz was also named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

“It’s unbelievable,” said the 32-year-old Venezuelan. Before the game, we were all talking about how we were going to win the team. I wouldn’t have thought that I would be the one to make the big hit. »

In the bottom of the ninth, Canadian coach Rob Thomson turned to one of his Phillies protégés, Craig Kimbrel.

The 35-year-old veteran needed 30 shots, but he got the job done and Nacional had to celebrate.

Kimbrel took out Wander Franco on a ball and Vladimir Guerrero on momentum, before a bit of suspense.

Kyle Tucker and local favorite Julio Rodriguez walked, but Jose Ramirez was later eliminated.

“It was really ‘fun’ to play the ninth on the dugout,” said Josh Hader of the Padres, who pitched in the eighth inning.

The American League had won the annual classic nine straight times.

The American opened 1-0 on a home run by Yandy Diaz of the Rays in the second.

Two innings later, Luis Arraez of the Marlins tied the score with a single, pushing home JD Martinez of the Dodgers.

The American responded in the sixth, the result of three hits to the opposing field. Salvador Perez of the Royals hit a single and Brent Rooker of the A’s a double, before a sacrifice fly by Bo Bichette of the Jays.

That was before Diaz hit four goals, much to Nacional’s delight.

At each club, a runner was pinned trying to steal second base.

Braves’ Sean Murphy retires Rays’ Randy Arozarena. Rangers’ Jonah Heim pulled the same trick on Arraez.

Guerrero made it 0-2. In addition to him and Bichette, Toronto was also represented by Jordan Romano, whose presence had to be interrupted due to back pain.

The 30-year-old right-hander came in at seventh, pulling Will Smith out on a fly ball.

Lourdes Gurriel followed with a long slap on the left stand. The umpires first awarded a home run before calling a foul ball, after consulting the replay.

During the overhaul, Romano was replaced by Michael Lorenzen of the Detroit Tigers.

Romano made five shots. The Ontarian leads major league baseball with 26 saves tied with Camilo Doval of the San Francisco Giants and Alexis Diaz of the Cincinnati Reds.

Attendance was 47,159 at T-Mobile Park.

The All-Star Game was hosted in Seattle for the first time since 2001.

Hall of Famers Edgar Martinez and Ken Griffey Jr. handed over ceremonial bids to former Mariners teammates Dan Wilson and Jay Buhner.

The second part of the campaign will start on Friday.

The Blue Jays will start with a home stay against the Diamondbacks and Padres.