The Midsummer Classic definitely lived up to its name.
Despite blowing a 6-0 advantage in the ninth, the National League beat the American League in a Home Run Derby swing off after regulation in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game.
Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber collected the MVP after his clutch performance in the swing off, going yard on each of his three swings to overcome the deficit and help build the win.
The NL got the scoring started early against Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal. In the first inning, Ketel Marte doubled to right, which allowed Ronald Acuna Jr. and Shohei Ohtani to go home for a 2-0 lead.
Pete Alonso added to the NL’s lead with a three-run homer in the sixth off Tigers’ Casey Mize, with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Brendan Donovan scoring. Corbin Carroll then followed up with another homer off Mize to make it 6-0.
But the AL didn’t go down without a fight. Right after in the top of the seventh, Trevor Megill allowed a three-run homer off Brent Rooker. Alejandro Kirk and Jonathan Aranda also rounded home. Then Bobby Witt Jr. grounded out to second, which saw Maikel Garcia cut the deficit to 6-4.
The NL could’ve ended the game at the top of the ninth, but failed. Robert Suárez allowed one RBI when Witt Jr. doubled to right to send Byron Buxton home. Suarez was then replaced immediately for Edwin Diaz, but Steven Kwan hit an infield single that drove Witt Jr. home after an earlier Jazz Chisholm Jr. ground out to first.
With the game tied 6-6 after regulation, it went to a swing off, a new change implemented after 2022. Six batters — three from each league chosen by the manager — go head to head to see which side can hit the most home runs, with three swings each.
Rooker beat Kyle Stowers 2-1, but Schwarber tied it in the second round with a 3-1 advantage over Randy Arozarena. It came down to Aranda and Alonso, but the former failed to score on three attempts so the latter didn’t need to break an extra sweat.
In the All-Star Game’s history, the AL has the advantage with a 48-45-2 record. The NL used to have the lead, but the AL had won 10 of the last 11 editions prior to the 2025 game.
Now the NL has the momentum going into next year’s edition, but not without a major hiccup.
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