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MLB All-Star Game: Jarren Duran’s homer gives…

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MLB All-Star Game: Jarren Duran’s homer gives AL victory over Shohei Ohtani, NL

Boston’s Duran, a former Cypress High and Long Beach State star, hits a tiebreaking two-run homer in the fifth inning to propel the American League to a 5-3 win. Dodgers star Ohtani hits a three-run homer and Pirates rookie Paul Skenes pitches a hitless first inning.

The American League’s Jarren Duran, of the Boston Red Sox, flips his bat after hitting a tiebreaking two-run home run during the fifth inning of the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas. Duran, who starred at Cypress High and Long Beach State, was named the game’s MVP after the AL won, 5-3. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The American League’s Jarren Duran, of the Boston Red Sox, flips his bat after hitting a tiebreaking two-run home run during the fifth inning of the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas. Duran, who starred at Cypress High and Long Beach State, was named the game’s MVP after the AL won, 5-3. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a three-run home run for the National League team during the third inning of the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Baseball Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas — Speedy Jarren Duran describes himself as a player who keeps his head down, works hard and never thinks of himself as being better than anybody else.

Duran, a former Cypress High and Long Beach State standout, turned some heads in his first All-Star Game, hitting a tiebreaking two-run homer for the American League and being awarded the MVP trophy named after Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams.

“That’s an honor. Who else would I want to try to follow in the footsteps of besides a guy like that, who is not just a great baseball player but a great human being,” Duran said after becoming the fifth Red Sox player selected All-Star Game MVP. “That guy was awesome, and I’m honored to be able to have his award.”

The decisive homer came in the fifth inning Tuesday night as the AL beat the National League, 5-3, for its 10th win in the past 11 All-Star Games.

Pittsburgh rookie Paul Skenes pitched a hitless first for the NL, twice hitting 100 mph, and Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani also went deep in Texas with a three-run homer for a 3-0 lead in the third.

Juan Soto hit a two-run double and scored on David Fry’s single to tie the score in the AL third, and Duran went deep off Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene, a former Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High star.

“It’s a surreal moment. So I’m just thankful to be here,” said Duran, a Corona native who was one of 39 first-time All-Stars this year.

Oakland right-hander Mason Miller got the win after throwing a 103.6 mph pitch, the fastest in the All-Star Game since tracking began in 2008. Hard-throwing Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase struck out two in the ninth for the save.

The 22-year-old Skenes, who has pitched only 11 major league games since being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft last July, became the first rookie starter since 1995 and had the fewest games played for any player to make an All-Star team. The right-hander, who starred at El Toro High before leading LSU to a College World Series title, threw a hitless first, with a two-out walk to Soto before his Yankees teammate Aaron Judge grounded into a forceout on the next pitch.

Skenes threw 11 of 16 pitches for strikes, with seven fastballs up to 100.1 mph.

“Frankly, I wish I’d had a few more pitches to do that today,” said Skenes, who has a good mix of pitches to go with the hard stuff. “It’s cool to bring eyes to the game.”

Ohtani, who has gone deep 29 times in the first season of his record $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers, pulled a 400-foot drive to right off Tanner Houck. That came after the Boston right-hander allowed singles to the first two batters he faced: No. 9 batter Jurickson Profar and leadoff hitter Ketel Marte.

“I haven’t really hit well in the All-Star Game, so I’m just relieved that I put the ball in play,” Ohtani said. “I just focused on having a regular at-bat as if I was in the regular season.”

When Ohtani went against Miller in the fifth, he struck out on an 89.2 mph slider well inside and out of the strike zone. That was after twice taking strikes on fastballs of more than 100 mph.

Ohtani’s first All-Star homer made him the first Dodgers player to go deep in the Midsummer Classic since Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza in 1996. Eleven days after his 30th birthday, Ohtani was an All-Star for the fourth time – his first with the NL.

Baltimore’s Anthony Santander, after taking over for Soto in right field, had a two-out single in the fifth before Duran’s 413-foot homer to right-center after he had replaced Judge in center. Duran took a 95.9 mph fastball before going deep on an 86 mph splitter.

“I knew he threw really hard so I was just praying he would throw me a first pitch fastball so I could see how hard it was. After that, I was hoping to get a pitch up,” Duran said. “He happened to leave a pitch up. I happened to put a good swing on it.”

The last Red Sox player to be the All-Star MVP was J.D. Drew in 2008, following Pedro Martinez in 1999, Roger Clemens in 1986 and Carl Yastrzemski in 1970.

Duran was voted by his peers as an All-Star after being the first AL player to go into the break with at least 100 hits, 10 triples, 10 homers and 20 stolen bases.

The AL has a 48-44-2 record in the All-Star Game, and had won nine in a row before the National League’s 3-2 victory last year in Seattle.

AL starter Corbin Burnes arrived in Texas the morning of the game after spending time at home with his newborn twin daughters. The Baltimore right-hander allowed a walk and then a two-out double to Bryce Harper before getting out of his inning on a comebacker by William Contreras, his catcher last season in Milwaukee.

After his underhand toss of the ball to first base, Burnes had a big smile on his face when he kept jogging and wrapped his arm around Contreras on the baseline.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried (Harvard-Westlake High) pitched a scoreless second inning for the NL, walking one.

QUIET NIGHT

Other than Ohtani, who walked and struck out in his two other plate appearances as the NL’s starting designated hitter, it was a quiet night for the Dodgers and Angels selected to the game.

Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who won the Home Run Derby on Monday night, started in center field and went 0 for 2 with a strikeout. Dodgers catcher Will Smith went 1 for 2, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman went 0 for 1. Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow, nursing a mild back injury, did not get into the game.

Angels pitcher Tyler Anderson, the lone All-Star representative for his team, also did not take the mound.

MLB WILL CONSIDER RETURNING TO TEAM UNIFORMS

MLB will consider going back to having players wear their team uniforms for the All-Star Game.

Club uniforms were used by the American League from 1933-2019 and by the National League from 1934-2019. When the game resumed in 2021 following the pandemic-related cancellation in 2020, MLB had started a uniform contract with Nike and Fanatics, and All-Stars were outfitted in specially designed league uniforms that drew criticism from traditionalists.

This year’s AL uniforms had a sandy base with red sleeves and lettering and the NL had a navy base with light blue sleeves and lettering.

“I’m aware of the sentiment on this issue,” Manfred told the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on Tuesday. “I think where my head is on it, it’s something we’re going to have a conversation about coming out of the All-Star Game. We’ve got a lot of uniform things going on. And, obviously, the conversations have to involve the players first and foremost but Nike, some of our partners. But I am aware of the sentiment, and I do know why people kind of like that tradition.”

MLB and Nike were criticized for club uniforms this year and said in May that 2025 club outfits will have larger lettering on the back of jerseys and individual pant customization. Players complained this year that white pants worn by some teams are see-through enough to show tucked-in jersey tops.

QUICK GAME

Played in 2 hours, 28 minutes, it was the shortest All-Star Game since 1988, a game that the AL won, 2-1, in Cincinnati that took only two minutes less.

WON IN BOTH LEAGUES

Bruce Bochy of the host Texas Rangers became the first manager to win World Series titles and All-Star Games in both leagues. Bochy is now 2-3 as an All-Star manager, leading the NL to a win in 2011. He won the World Series three times with the NL’s San Francisco Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014, then led the Rangers to their first championship in his debut season with them last year.

UP NEXT

The MLB regular series resumes Friday when 14 games are scheduled, with Milwaukee and Minnesota the only teams that won’t play until Saturday. The Dodgers (56-41) host the Red Sox beginning Friday night, while the Angels (41-55) begin a three-game series in Oakland that night. Philadelphia (62-34) has the best record in the majors and Cleveland (58-37) has an AL-best .611 winning percentage, though Baltimore and the New York Yankees also have 58 wins. San Diego (50-49) is set to become the first team to play its 100th game, at the Guardians on Friday night.

AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this story.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 16: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after being named the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player in a 5-3 victory over the National League during the 94th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Globe Life Field on July 16, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran celebrates after being named the MVP of the All-Star Game after his tiebreaking two-run home run led the American League to a 5-3 victory over the National League on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas. Duran is a former Cypress High and Long Beach State standout. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

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