Enrique RojasESPN Digital Senior WriterReading: 5 min.
Elias Diaz leads the National League with a 2-run home run
Maracuccio hits a home run to left and puts the National League up 3-2 in the eighth inning.
SEATTLE — Latino representation made a strong showing in the 93rd edition of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game, leading the National League to a 3-2 victory over the American League on Tuesday in front of 47,159 fans. T-Mobile Park Seattle Mariners.
Colorado Rockies catcher pinch-hitter Elias Diaz hit a two-run home run off Baltimore Orioles’ Dominican reliever Felix Bautista in the eighth inning to help snap the old circuit’s nine-game losing streak. streak in the Midseason Classic.
Diaz was named the game’s MVP and received the Ted Williams Trophy from former Cooperstown Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr.
About 42% of the players on the 2023 All-Star Game roster (32 total, 20 in the American League and 12 in the National League) were born outside the United States, with the majority in Latin America.
Diaz, making his All-Star debut in his ninth major league season with Colorado, has pitched the last four games with ease on Tuesday.
Cuban outfielder Yandy Diaz of the Tampa Bay Rays hit a solo home run against Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates to give the American League a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, but in the top of the fourth inning, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cuban-American J.T. Martinez hit a double by Miami Marlins’ Venezuelan second baseman Luis Ares.
Martinez and Ares each went 2-2 in the midseason Clasico, the sixth for the Miami native and second for the South American. Martinez hit and Ares pushed.
The contest began with two outstanding defensive plays by Texas Rangers’ Cuban outfielders Adolis Garcia and Venezuela’s Ronald Acuna Jr., who stole extra-base hits from the Atlanta Braves and Freddie Freeman of the Rays. Dodgers respectively.
Diaz went 1 for 2 with an RBI and Arosarena went 2 for 1, while Arizona Diamondbacks compatriot Lourdes Curiel Jr. connected on two infield hits. Third baseman Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians doubled and Juan Soto of the San Diego Padres went 1 for 3, while Venezuelan catcher Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals replaced designated hitter and scored a run in two at-bats.
It was Perez’s eighth call to the All-Star Game and Ramirez’s fifth.
Acuna Jr. (2-0) and his teammate and compatriot Orlando Arcia (2-0) and Curacao’s Ozzy Albies (2-0) are winless; Dominican Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2-0), Toronto Blue Jays; Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners (1-0) and Ticket; Vander Franco of the Rays (1-0), and Geraldo Perdomo of the Arizona Diamondbacks (1-0), and Cubans Garcia (2-0) and Jorge Soler (1-0) of the Miami Marlins.
Dominican closer Camilo Doval (1-0) was the winning pitcher with a scoreless inning for the San Francisco Giants, while his compatriot Bautista (0-1) bit the dust thanks to Elias Diaz’s home run.
Alexis Diaz, the Puerto Rican closer for the Cincinnati Reds, allowed two hits and one run, but Dominican Carlos Esteves of the Los Angeles Angels; Cuban Yennier Cano of the Baltimore Orioles and Venezuelan Pablo Lopez of the Minnesota Twins each threw a no-hitter. Kenley Johnson of the Boston Red Sox retired the only batter he faced.
Since the All-Star Game was created in 1933, the American League has dominated the series 47-44 with two ties over the National League. Despite the loss this year, the young circuit has won 16 of the last 20 and 21 of 26.
The next All-Star Game venues are Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas in 2024 and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia in 2026. The 2025 edition is contested by Troost Park in Atlanta and Wrigley Field in Rogers Center in Chicago. Oriole Park in Camden Yards, Toronto, Canada and Baltimore.
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