NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The 2026 MLB All-Star Game arrived in Philadelphia with the vibe of a United States 250th birthday party, with lots of red, white and blue and a roster full of stars who have earned their stripes.
But Citizens Bank Park, long known as a hitter-friendly setting, produced fewer fireworks than expected as the American League blanked the National League 4-0 in the 96th Midsummer Classic.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
A general view of Citizens Bank Park during the 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard on July 14, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photos by Rob Tringali/MLB via Getty Images)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease struck out the side in the first inning, setting the tone for a dominant AL pitching performance as 10 relievers helped complete a three-hitter in the NL shutout Tuesday night.
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger hit a two-run single and Ben Rice followed with an RBI single in the first against Cristopher Sánchez of the host Philadelphia Phillies.
Chicago White Sox infielder Miguel Vargas added an eighth-inning home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Wrobleski, who was pitching on his 26th birthday, for the game’s only extra-base hit. The AL won for the 18th time in 23 games and holds an overall advantage of 49-45-2.
Singles by Juan Soto in the fourth, Pete Crow-Armstrong in the eighth and Otto Lopez in the ninth were the only hits for the NL, which failed to advance a runner beyond first.
Pitchers combined for 27 strikeouts, 15 by AL pitchers.
MLB ALL-STARS GAME SCARE AS RAYS SLUGGER JUNIOR CAMINERO RELEASES AFTER TAKING 98 MPH FASTBALL IN HAND
Yandy Diaz of the Tampa Bay Rays loses control of the bat in the fifth inning during the MLB All-Star Game between the American League and National League on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Matt Rourke/AP)
Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, last year’s hero in the first-ever tiebreaker, started for the NL. Schwarber replaced designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who skipped the showcase to undergo knee surgery before the second half of the season.
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber bats during the third inning of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 14, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene and two New York Yankees, first basemen Ben Rice and Bellinger, earned starting spots in the American League due to injuries.
Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays was hit on the outside of his left hand by a 97.6 mph sinker from closer Riley O’Brien of the St. Louis Cardinals in the third inning and immediately left the game. The 23-year-old, fourth in the major leagues with 28 home runs, stayed on the ground for a few moments before popping up and running straight toward the clubhouse. The x-rays were negative.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
Players in the majors will have a day off Wednesday before the Phillies host the New York Mets on Thursday. Action in the rest of the league resumes on Friday.
