NL halts All-Star game drought behind Elias Diaz's late 2-run HR - ESPN

SEATTLE — A stolen base overturned, a home run called foul upon review, a plea by fans for Shohei Ohtani to play in Seattle, a tension filled finish and two leaping catches at the wall in the very first inning were just a few of the highlights during the 2023 All-Star game, won by the National League, 3-2.

The tying and lead runs were scored on an Elias Diaz home run in the top of the eighth inning, erasing a 2-1 NL deficit after the AL took the lead in the sixth on a Bo Bichette sacrifice fly. NL reliever Craig Kimbrel struck out Jose Ramirez with two on in the ninth to earn the save as the NL ended a nine-game All-Star Game drought. Diaz became the first Rockies player to win the All-Star MVP award.

According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Diaz is the 24th player to homer in his first career all-star game at-bat and the second to do so in the game after Yandy Díaz went deep in the second inning. That blast gave the AL a 1-0 lead. A couple innings later, the NL tied the game on a Luis Arraez RBI single.

But the early energy in the stadium involved the T-Mobile Park crowd, who loudly chanted 'Come to Seattle' each time Ohtani came to the plate, in the first inning then again in the fourth. Ohtani will be a well sought after free agent at the end of the season.

«Never experienced anything like that, but I definitely heard it,» Ohtani said afterwards through his interpreter. «But I was trying to focus on my at-bat.»

Ohtani struck out and walked before coming out of the game in favor of Salvador Perez who scored a run on the Bichette sacrifice fly. Ohtani was also asked if any teammates were attempting to recruit him.

«I would like to keep that a secret,» he responded. «Even if someone said that, I don't think I