The National League beat the American League in the first ever Swing-Off in the All-Star Game. The Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber clubbed three homers in the deciding home run derby, giving the NL a 4-3 advantage. The NL led, 6-0 after six innings, but the AL came back to tie the game in the 9th. Schwarber was named the All-Star MVP.
The Pirates’ Paul Skenes pitched the first inning, striking out the first two batters, Detroit’s Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene, then got a weak groundout by Aaron Judge. He said that’s All-Star baseball.
Skenes enjoyed the game returning to the traditional wearing of each player’s team uniform rather than a special All-Star edition.
It was the second All-Star start for Skenes and the experience for him was different this year, especially getting to watch Oneil Cruz Monday night in the home run derby.
Manager Don Kelly has yet to set his pitching rotation for their return to action Friday at PNC Park against the White Sox. The Bucs broke their eight-game losing streak with a 2-1 win Sunday at Minnesota. At 39-58, they are 18-and-a-half games behind the first-place Cubs in the National League Central.
ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona returns from the All-Star break Friday with three games at home against Akron, followed by a six-game home series Chesapeake.
