Juan Soto, AL Beat Shohei Ohtani, NL in 2024 MLB ASG as Duran Hits Game-Winning HR

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVJuly 17, 2024

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The American League is back in the win column.

After seeing its nine-game winning streak snapped in last year’s All-Star Game, the Junior Circuit bounced back and defeated the National League 5-3 in Tuesday’s contest at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Boston Red Sox outfielder and game MVP Jarren Duran’s two-run homer in the fifth inning proved to be the difference, and American League pitchers not named Tanner Houck combined to throw eight scoreless frames.

B/R Walk-Off @BRWalkoffJARREN DURAN GO-AHEAD 2-RUN SHOT 💥

(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/fHBp7IysKE

Baltimore Orioles starter Corbin Burnes opened the game with a scoreless inning, and Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase closed the door in the ninth.

Despite the loss, it seemed as if the National League was going to cruise to a second straight win when two of the game’s biggest stars put their stamp on the game in the early going.

Pittsburgh Pirates fireballer Paul Skenes started the game for the Senior Circuit and worked a scoreless first inning in a frame that included retiring New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge on one pitch in a highly anticipated showdown. Then Shohei Ohtani started the scoring by launching a three-run homer off Houck in the third inning.

B/R Walk-Off @BRWalkoffShohei got ALL of that 😯

(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/i8BopS8dVX

Ohtani is arguably the game’s biggest star, and he likely would have won MVP had his team maintained the early 3-0 advantage.

However, the American League wasted no time responding by pushing across three runs of their own in the bottom of the third against Logan Webb thanks to a two-run double from Juan Soto and an RBI single from David Fry.

B/R Walk-Off @BRWalkoffJuan Soto with a two-run double in the 3rd inning!

(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/6zTDhjUEll

The Junior Circuit kept the momentum rolling against Hunter Greene in the fifth when Duran blasted a two-run homer after some loud outs from Riley Greene and Corey Seager earlier in the inning.

It was a showing to forget for the Cincinnati Reds pitcher and also underscored the power on the American League’s side even when multiple players flew out to the wall. That power wasn’t limited to the plate, as Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller threw a 104 mph fastball while striking out two in a 1-2-3 fifth inning.

B/R Walk-Off @BRWalkoffMason Miller just threw the hardest pitch ever tracked by Statcast in an All-Star Game 🤯

(via @MLBONFOX)pic.twitter.com/QTnJsoUirO

He set the tone for the rest of his side’s bullpen, as Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo and Kirby Yates cruised through the sixth, seventh and eighth innings before Clase did what he’s done all season and notched the save.

Clase did so with style by striking out Bryan Reynolds, who represented the tying run at the plate.