ARLINGTON, Texas — Was there ever any doubt that Shohei Ohtani, the star of stars, would perform well in the All-Star Game?
The Dodgers’ $700 million star hit a three-run homer after just two at-bats, rocketing a Tanner Hawk splitball 400 feet into the right field stands at Globe Life Park.
“Overall, my hitting wasn’t that good in the All-Star Game,” Ohtani said through an interpreter, after entering the first three games of the Midsummer Classic with one hit in four at-bats, two walks and one strikeout. “I was just relieved that I was able to hit the ball.”
For Ohtani, his fourth All-Star game was his best.
The No. 2 hitter walked in the first inning and then caught a hanging split ball from Hack in the third to take a 2-0 lead.
“That was a good swing,” said Hack, the Red Sox starter.
“It was emotional to watch,” said Aaron Judge, who was perched in center field. “I wish it hadn’t happened there.”
Ohtani became the first Dodgers player to hit a home run at the showcase event since Mike Piazza in 1996.
There were only two things that went badly for Ohtani on Tuesday: His National League team lost 5-3, potentially costing him the MVP award, and he had the misfortune of facing Athletics closer Mason Miller in the fifth inning.
In Ohtani’s final at-bat, he waited for two strikes — 100.6 and 101.8 mph — to go by before swinging at a hard slider.
“Both of his pitchers threw really good balls,” Ohtani said. “The balls were heavy.”
The American League used nine pitchers, including Clay Holmes. There was no one among them.
Hack was the only pitcher to allow one run, and every AL pitcher who participated pitched a complete inning.
Holmes said he would step in if other pitchers needed help to finish an inning.
“I always want to pitch, but I knew from the moment I came on the mound that I was going to close out the inning,” Holmes said.
Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the fifth inning and was named MVP.
The American League has won 10 of the last 11 All-Star Games.
Former Mets and current Royal Seth Lugo He put two runners on base with one out in the seventh inning, but then struck out Colorado’s Ryan McMahon and got Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna to ground out.
Pete Alonso took one pinch-hit at bat in the ninth inning and struck out against Cleveland’s Emmanuel Klass.
Before the game, Alonso, the Mets’ lone All-Star, said he wished he had someone with him.
“I wish they were here,” Alonso said of Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo. “I wish they were here.”
Lindor, who has had a slow start to the season that may have affected him, has yet to play in an All-Star Game in his four seasons in Queens.
Nimmo has been one of the better players in baseball since 2017, but somehow he has yet to be selected to an All-Star team and said he’s “not winning any popularity contests” this year.
Alonso’s request to participate in the Home Run Derby may have been the catalyst for MLB selecting him to represent the team.
