National League wins MLB All-Star Game in historic fashion
Context:
The 2025 MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta saw the National League triumph in a historic fashion, marking the first use of a swing-off to break a tie in the event's history. The National League took an early lead with Arizona's Ketel Marte driving in two runs, followed by a three-run homer from Pete Alonso. The American League managed to level the score at 6-6, thanks to a three-run homer by Brent Rooker and additional runs by Bobby Witt Jr. and Steven Kwan. The game was ultimately decided by a home run derby-style swing-off, where Kyle Schwarber's performance earned him the MVP title. Additionally, the debut of the Automated Ball-Strike System was a notable feature, with successful appeals made by players like Cal Raleigh and Jacob Wilson against the robot umpire's calls.
Dive Deeper:
The National League All-Stars took an early lead in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, starting with Ketel Marte's double that scored Ronald Acuna Jr. and Shohei Ohtani in the first inning. This was followed by a three-run homer by Pete Alonso in the sixth, bringing the score to 6-0.
The American League responded in the following inning with Athletics' outfielder Brent Rooker's three-run homer, and Bobby Witt Jr. added another run, narrowing the gap to 6-4. Witt Jr. further reduced the deficit by doubling in the ninth inning, allowing Steven Kwan to tie the game at 6-6 with an infield single.
For the first time in MLB All-Star Game history, the winner was determined by a swing-off due to the tie score after nine innings. Phillies' Kyle Schwarber was instrumental in the National League's victory, contributing significantly in the home run derby-style tiebreaker, which earned him the MVP award.
The game also marked the highly anticipated debut of the Automated Ball-Strike System. During the first inning, Cal Raleigh successfully appealed a robot umpire decision, earning a strikeout for Tarik Skubal, while Jacob Wilson successfully challenged a strike call in the fifth inning.
The computer umpire system, having been tested in spring training and adopted at the minor league level in previous years, received its first major league exposure during this All-Star Game, illustrating its potential impact on future games.