MIAMI – Astros second basemen Jose Altuve grounded out to Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer in the first at-bat of the All-Star Game, but the American League got the last laugh in a 10-inning affair in Miami.
The AL topped the NL 2-1.
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Altuve hit a harmless chopper to Scherzer, who fielded it clean and threw to first for the first out.
Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez notched the first hit of the night with a base hit through the right side of the infield.
After an Aaron Judge strikeout, Astros outfielder George Springer struck out on four Scherzer pitches with Astros shortstop Carlos Correa waiting on deck.
A Bryce Harper single was all the National League could muster against Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale in the bottom of the first inning.
To start the second inning, Correa flied out to center on the first pitch he saw from former teammate, Pat Neshek, who is an All-Star for the Phillies.
After a pair of leadoff singles in the second inning by Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy and Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, Sale induced a grounder to Altuve, who flipped to Correa to turn the game's first double play.
Sale then struck out Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna for the final out of the inning to keep the game scoreless.
Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez relieved Neshek in the third inning. He got Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts to ground out to first before striking Altuve out on three swinging strikes.
Ramirez followed with a single to right for his second hit of the game, before stealing second base on the fourth pitch of Judge's second at-bat of the game. Judge grounded out to shortstop on the following pitch.
Springer struck out against Martinez in the fourth inning, as did Correa. Martinez finished his night by striking out Rays outfielder Corey Dickerson, his night with four strikeouts.
The American League made a slew of changes in the bottom half of the fourth inning.
Altuve was replaced by Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop, Twins third baseman Miguel Sano replaced Ramirez and A's first baseman Yonder Alonso replaced Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak.
After his second single of the game, Arenado attempted to advance to second base after a Ryan Zimmerman flyout to center, but Betts was able to make a pinpoint throw to second to get the double play.
Schoop recorded the game's first extra-base hit with a two-out double off Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood in the fifth inning. Sano followed the double by blooping an RBI single to right field between three Nationals - Harper, Zimmerman and Murphy.
The American League took a 1-0 lead to the bottom half of the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Tigers outfielder Justin Upton replaced Judge in right field and Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor replaced Correa.
Twins pitcher Brandon Kintzler worked a perfect half inning in the fifth, enticing groundouts from Reds shortstop Zack Cozart, Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon and Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton.
The National League made a full lineup switch in the top of the sixth. Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte took over for Blackmon, Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger replaced Harper, Cardinals catcher took over for Buster Posey, of the Giants, Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison replaced Murphy, Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner took over for Arenado, Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt took over for Zimmerman, Mets outfielder Michael Conforto replaced Ozuna and Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager took over for Cozart. Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke took over for Wood.
In what would be his final at-bat, Springer flied out to center for the first out in the sixth inning. After a Lindor strikeout, Alonso singled to right field before Mariners outfielder Nelson Cruz flied out to center.
Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez took over behind the plate for the American League in the bottom of the sixth, replacing Salvador Perez, of the Royals. Chicago White Sox outfielder Avasail Garcia took over for Betts in center while Indians outfielder Michael Brantley replaced Springer in left.
After a Bellinger groundout, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina tied the game with a solo homer off Twins pitcher Ervin Santana, who replaced his teammate Kintzler to start the inning. Santana bounced back by striking out Harrison and getting Turner to pop out.
To start the seventh inning, Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb took over for Turner at third base and Padres pitcher Brad Hand replaced Greinke.
Hand worked a scoreless side before being replaced by Rockies reliever Greg Holland.
Brantley roped a two-out single down the right-field line in the top of the eighth inning, but Lindor struck out to end the threat.
Astros pitcher Chris Devenski entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, replacing Blue Jays reliever Roberto Osuna. Devenski got Inciarte to lineout to first, struck out Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who replaced Stanton, and got Bellinger to groundout to second.
Dodgers pitcher Kenley Jansen relieved Holland in the ninth inning. Alonso collected his second hit of the game to start the inning, and promptly stole second base. Cruz struck out for the first out of the inning before Sanchez went down swinging, leaving Alonso on second. During Garcia's at-bat, a balk was called on Jansen, moving Alonso to third, but Garcia struck out on the next pitch to end the inning.
Red Sox pitcher Craig Kimbrel relieved Devenski in the ninth inning. He issued a leadoff walk to Molina before striking out Harrison. A wild pitch allowed Molina to move to second, and Kimbrel walked Lamb to put runners on first and second with Goldschmidt coming to the plate.
Goldschmidt flied out to center, moving Molina to third, but Kimbrel struck out Conforto, forcing extra innings.
Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano opened up the tenth inning with a solo homer off Cubs closer Wade Davis, who had just entered the game. Davis struck out Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas and, after a single by Upton, got Brantley to ground into a double play to end the inning. The American League took the one-run lead into the bottom of the inning.
Indians reliever Andrew Miller entered to close the game. He got Seager to lineout to right and Inciarte to ground out to shortstop before walking Votto.
Miller struck out Bellinger to end the game.
The Houston Astros are ready to put on a show in Miami at the MLB All-Star Game! Check out KPRC2 / Click2Houston for complete coverage of the festivities: Astros reach All-Star break in midst of historic season: http://bit.ly/2sXE5RB Astros stock Minute Maid Park team store with All-Star gear: http://bit.ly/2ufXZam 5 Astros players excited to play together in AL All-Star game: http://bit.ly/2tKLYGZ Aaron Judge smashes his way to Home Run Derby title: http://bit.ly/2ucmHsw Astros 2B Jose Altuve to bat leadoff for American League All-Star team: http://bit.ly/2sXy5Z
Posted by KPRC2 / Click2Houston on Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Post game with Carlos Correa (@TeamCJCorrea ) about #AllStarGame experience #Astros @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/yifDgRiY5F
— Randy McIlvoy (@KPRC2RandyMc) July 12, 2017
Post game with Springer #Astros #ASG2017 #ASG #AllStarGame2017 @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/VWYYtFAVUe
— Randy McIlvoy (@KPRC2RandyMc) July 12, 2017
