By Stephen Hawkins
The Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas — Speedy Jarren Duran describes himself as a player who keeps his head down, works hard and never thinks he’s better than anyone else.
Duran turned heads in his first All-Star Game, hitting a game-winning two-run home run for the American League and receiving the MVP trophy named after Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams.
“It’s an honor. Who else would I want to try to follow in the footsteps of a guy like him, who’s not only a great baseball player but a great human being,” Duran said after becoming the fifth Red Sox player to be voted All-Star MVP. “That guy was awesome, and I’m honored to be able to receive his award.”
The game-winning home run came in the fifth inning Tuesday night as the AL beat the National League 5-3 for its 10th victory in the last 11 All-Star games.
Pittsburgh rookie Paul Skenes pitched a no-hitter for the National League, hitting twice at 100 mph, and Shohei Ohtani also hit a three-run home run for Texas to give it a 3-0 lead in the third inning.
Juan Soto hit a two-run double and scored on David Fry’s single to tie the game in the American League third inning, and Duran homered deep against Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene.
“It’s a surreal moment. So I’m just grateful to be here,” said Duran, who was one of 39 new All-Stars this year.
Oakland right-hander Mason Miller earned the win after throwing a 103.6 mph pitch, the fastest in the All-Star Game since tracking began in 2008. Cleveland relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase struck out two batters in the ninth inning for the save.
Skenes, 22, who has pitched just 11 major league games since being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft last July, became the first rookie starter since 1995 and the player with the fewest games played by a player to make an All-Star team. The right-hander pitched a no-hit first inning, with a two-out walk to Soto before Yankees teammate Aaron Judge was retired on the next pitch.
Skenes threw 11 of 16 pitches for strikes, with seven fastballs up to 100.1 mph.
“I honestly wish I had more pitches to do that today,” said Skenes, who has a good mix of pitches to go with the tough balls. “It’s cool to get some eyes on the game.”
Ohtani, who has struck out 29 times in the first season of his record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hit a 400-foot single to right off Tanner Houck. It came after the Boston right-hander allowed singles to the first two batters he faced: No. 9 hitter Jurickson Profar and leadoff hitter Ketel Marte.
“I didn’t hit really well in the All-Star Game, so I’m just relieved to get the ball in play,” Ohtani said. “I just focused on getting a consistent at-bat like I would in the regular season.”
When Ohtani faced Miller in the fifth inning, he was thrown out on an 89.2 mph slider well inside and out of the strike zone. That was after taking two strikes on fastballs over 100 mph.
Ohtani’s first All-Star home run made him the first Dodgers player to hit a home run 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 replacing Soto in right field, singled with two outs in the fifth inning before Duran’s 413-foot home run to right-center field after replacing Judge in center field. Duran took a 95.9 mph fastball before hitting an 86 mph long ball.
“I knew he was throwing really hard, so I was praying he would throw me a fastball on the first pitch so I could see how hard it was. After that, I was hoping to make a pitch,” Duran said. “It turned out he had left a pitch in the air. I was able to get a good swing at it.”
The last Red Sox player to win 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 an All-Star by his peers after becoming the first American League player to enter the break with at least 100 hits, 10 triples, 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
The AL is 48-44-2 in All-Star games and had won nine straight before the National League’s 3-2 victory last year in Seattle.
American League starting pitcher Corbin Burnes of the Orioles arrived in Texas the morning of the game after spending time at home with his newborn twin daughters. A former Saint Mary’s College star, the right-hander walked and gave up a two-out double to Bryce Harper before retiring his inning on a groundout by William Contreras, his catcher last season in Milwaukee.
After throwing the ball underhand to first base, Burnes had a big smile on his face as he kept running and wrapped his arm around Contreras on the baseline.
Fast game
Played in 2 hours and 28 minutes, it was the shortest All-Star Game since 1988, a game the AL won 2-1 in Cincinnati that was only two minutes shorter.
Won in both leagues
The Rangers’ Bruce Bochy became the first manager to win World Series titles and the All-Star Game in both leagues. Bochy is now 2-3 as an All-Star manager, having led the National League to a victory in 2011. He won the World Series three times with the National League’s San Francisco Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014, then led the Rangers to their first championship in his first season with them last year.
Following
The MLB regular season resumes Friday with 14 games on the schedule, with Milwaukee and Minnesota the only teams that won’t play until Saturday. Philadelphia (62-34) has the best record in the major leagues and Cleveland (58-37) has a .611 winning percentage, the best in the American League, although Baltimore and the New York Yankees also have 58 wins.
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