Bellinger Leads American League to All-Star Shutout

Player of the Day

Cody Bellinger, American League

Cody Bellinger drove in the first two runs of the game with a bases-loaded single in the opening inning and was named the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. His hit gave the American League an early lead it never surrendered in a 4-0 victory over the National League.

Top Stories

• Cody Bellinger drives in two runs and earns All-Star Game MVP honors.
• Dylan Cease strikes out the side in a scoreless first inning.
• American League pitchers combine for 15 strikeouts and allow only three singles.
• Ben Rice adds an RBI single during the American League’s three-run first.
• Miguel Vargas hits the game’s only home run in his All-Star debut.
• Justin Wrobleski strikes out five over two innings on his 26th birthday.
• Junior Caminero leaves after being hit on the hand, but X-rays are negative.
• The American League records the 10th shutout in All-Star Game history.

All-Star Game Scoreboard

Game Recap

The American League took control before the National League had an opportunity to bat. Yordan Alvarez singled, Shea Langeliers and Bobby Witt Jr. walked, and Bellinger delivered a two-run single with two outs. Rice followed with another single to make it 3-0.

That was more than enough support for an American League pitching staff that controlled the rest of the night. Cease opened the game by striking out three of the four hitters he faced, and 10 relievers followed with eight more scoreless innings.

Vargas supplied the final run with a 433-foot solo homer in the eighth. The National League finished with three hits, all singles, and never advanced a runner beyond first base.

Inning-by-Inning Breakdown

First Inning

The American League loaded the bases against Sánchez before Bellinger singled home Alvarez and Langeliers. Rice followed with an RBI single that scored Witt Jr. Cease then struck out three National League hitters in the bottom half.

Second Through Sixth Innings

Pitching controlled the middle innings. Parker Messick, Michael Wacha, Joe Ryan, Nick Martinez and Cade Smith each worked scoreless innings for the American League. The National League bullpen also prevented the early deficit from expanding.

Seventh Inning

Wrobleski struck out all three hitters he faced during a dominant seventh inning on his birthday.

Eighth Inning

Vargas launched a solo homer to left field, extending the American League lead to 4-0. Wrobleski completed his second inning with five total strikeouts.

Ninth Inning

Aroldis Chapman and Bryan Baker recorded the final three outs. Otto Lopez singled with two outs, but Baker retired the final batter to complete the shutout.

Turning Point

Bellinger’s bases-loaded single with two outs in the first immediately gave the American League a 2-0 advantage. Rice’s follow-up hit made it a three-run inning and allowed the AL pitching staff to work with a comfortable lead.

Big Bats

• Cody Bellinger, Yankees: 1-for-3, two RBI and All-Star Game MVP.
• Ben Rice, Yankees: 1-for-2 with an RBI single.
• Miguel Vargas, White Sox: Solo home run in the eighth inning.
• Yordan Alvarez, Astros: Singled and scored the game’s first run.
• Shea Langeliers, Athletics: Reached twice and scored in the first inning.
• Bobby Witt Jr., Royals: Walked and scored during the three-run first.

Dealing

• Dylan Cease, Blue Jays: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
• Michael Wacha, Royals: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K.
• Joe Ryan, Twins: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K.
• Cade Smith, Guardians: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K.
• Justin Wrobleski, Dodgers: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 5 K.
• Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox: Two outs and one strikeout in the ninth.

American League Pitching Line

• Innings: 9
• Hits Allowed: 3
• Runs Allowed: 0
• Strikeouts: 15
• Walks: 2
• Extra-Base Hits Allowed: 0

National League Highlights

• Juan Soto recorded the National League’s first hit.
• Pete Crow-Armstrong singled in the eighth inning.
• Otto Lopez singled with two outs in the ninth.
• Justin Wrobleski became the first pitcher since Pedro Martínez in 1999 to record five strikeouts in an All-Star Game.
• Jhoan Duran received his familiar entrance and completed a scoreless ninth inning for the National League.

Injury Update

• Junior Caminero, Rays: Left the game after being hit on the left hand by a pitch during the third inning.
• X-rays were negative, and Caminero said he expects to be available when Tampa Bay resumes regular-season play.

All-Star Game Notes

• Bellinger became the fourth Yankees player to win All-Star Game MVP.
• The previous Yankees winners were Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Giancarlo Stanton.
• The American League recorded its first All-Star Game shutout since 2013.
• The AL’s 15 strikeouts were one shy of the nine-inning All-Star Game record.
• The American League extended its all-time series lead to 49-45-2.
• The AL has won 23 of the last 29 completed All-Star Games.
• Attendance at Citizens Bank Park was 43,916.
• The game lasted two hours and 45 minutes.

Stat of the Day

American League pitchers allowed only three singles and struck out 15 hitters. It was the 10th shutout in All-Star Game history and the first since the American League’s 3-0 victory in 2013.

Looking Ahead

All-Star Week concludes with the American League reclaiming the Midsummer Classic after the National League won the 2025 game through a swing-off. The regular season resumes with division leaders, wild-card contenders and several of the game’s hottest teams beginning the second half.

All-Star Game at a Glance

• Final Score: American League 4, National League 0.
• MVP: Cody Bellinger.
• Winning Pitcher: Dylan Cease.
• Losing Pitcher: Cristopher Sánchez.
• Top Hit: Bellinger’s two-run single in the first.
• Only Home Run: Miguel Vargas in the eighth.
• AL Strikeouts: 15.
• NL Hits: Three singles.
• Attendance: 43,916.
• Game Time: 2:45.