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Kyle Schwarber secures National League's win after first-ever swing-off at 2025 MLB All-Star Game

A first-ever All-Star Game tiebreaker, in the form of a home run swing-off, took place Tuesday night in Atlanta after the American and National League teams played to a 6-6 tie in nine innings. 

Three players from each team, including the Mets’ Pete Alonso, lined up to take three swings apiece to decide the game.

But as it turned out, Alonso never got to swing because Kyle Schwarber hit three home runs in three swings to win it as the NL outhomered the AL 4-3.

The AL was leading 3-1 after two home runs by Brent Rooker and one by Randy Arozarena, against one by Kyle Stowers from the NL, when Schwarber hit three to put them ahead.

Jonathan Aranda of the Tampa Bay Rays had a chance to re-take the lead for the AL and leave it up to Alonso, but he failed to hit a home run in three swings, missing one by only a couple of feet high off the right field wall.

The new format was adopted so that managers wouldn’t have to hold back pitchers for the potential of extra innings, allowing as many players as possible the chance to participate in the game.

Here are some takeaways...

-For a long time, it looked like Alonso’s three-run home run in the sixth inning would be the difference in the game, as it gave the NL a 5-0 lead at the time.

However, the AL rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth, the last one scoring on an infield hit, a slow roller to third, by Steven Kwan against Edwin Diaz.

Alonso jumped on a 1-0 fastball at 93 mph from KC Royals’ lefty Kris Bubic and drove it over the right field wall for a three-run shot that gave the NL a 5-0 lead at the time.

Fernando Tatis Jr. started the inning with a walk and promptly stole second base. Brendan Donovan then grounded a ball to deep short and easily beat Bobby Witt Jr.’s throw to first, as Tatis went to third.

Alonso, who had replaced Freddie Freeman at first base in the third inning, got jammed in his first at-bat against Seattle Mariners’ right-hander Bryan Woo. This time he got a pitch out over the plate and took it to the opposite field for a no-doubter of a home run.

It was the third home run by a Met in an All-Star game, following Lee Mazzilli in 1979 and David Wright in 2006.

There were two other home runs in the game: Diamondbacks’ outfielder Corbin Carroll delivered a solo shot, also in the sixth inning following Alonso, and gave the NL a 6-0 lead.

Rooker hit a three-run shot in the seventh inning off Giants’ right-handed reliever Randy Rodriguez, cutting the NL lead to 6-3 at the time.

The show of power on both sides was fitting for a game that featured an in-game tribute to the late Hank Aaron, the late home run king who played for the Braves in both Milwaukee and Atlanta.

 Tuesday night’s game was paused going into the top of the seventh as MLB paid tribute to Aaron with a video and light-show reconstruction of sorts of Aaron’s 715th home run in 1974 in Atlanta that broke Babe Ruth’s then record total of 714.

The tribute included Vin Scully’s memorable TV call, played for both the Truist Field crowd and the national TV audience to hear.

The NL led 6-4 going into the ninth but San Diego Padres’ reliever Robert Suarez gave up back-to-back doubles with one out, at which point Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts went to Diaz.

The Mets’ closer was fortunate that Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s one-hop smash down the first base line was fielded by the Braves’ Matt Olson for the second out of the inning. But Kwan then hit a slow roller toward third and easily beat it out as Bobby Witt Jr. scored from third to tie the game.

-Clayton Kershaw, appearing in the game courtesy of a Legends pick by MLB, was mic’d up as he pitched the second inning, and had some fun with it, commenting on each pitch he chose to throw.

He embraced the conversation with Joe Davis and John Smoltz of FOX, and as he went to a 1-2 count on Vlad Guerrero Jr., even invited Smoltz to call the next pitch.

“Smoltzie, what do you want?”

“Cutter in,” Smoltz replied

To which Kershaw feigned indignance, and said, “I don’t throw a cutter, Smoltzie.”

Then he threw a slider that froze Vlad Jr. for strike three, his second out of the inning, at which point Dave Roberts pulled him from the game to get a standing ovation from the crowd.

Yankees’ left-hander Carlos Rodon pitched a scoreless third inning for the AL, allowing one hit, a double by Pete Crow-Armstrong.

-Mets’ left-hander David Peterson pitched a scoreless fourth inning for the NL. He allowed a pair of two-out singles but got Ryan O’Hearn on a soft comebacker to the mound to escape the inning.

-Jacob Misiorowski, the Milwaukee Brewers’ rookie who gained instant fame of sorts by being named to the  NL All-Star team after only five starts, showed off his 100-mph-plus fastball while pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

 Misiorowski threw nine fastballs at 100 mph or harder, including a few at 102 mph, though he recorded no strikeouts. Instead, he gave up some hard contact but allowed just one hit, on a 94-mph change-up, a single by the Rays’ Jonathan Aranda.

-Eugenio Suarez, a potential trade target for both the Mets and Yankees, was hit on his left hand by a pitch by Chicago White Sox reliever Shane Smith.

Suarez was examined on the field by medical personnel but stayed in the game. He went on to make a nice barehanded play in the ninth on a slow chopper hit by the Royals’ Maikel Garcia, throwing him out by a full stride.

Highlights

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Clayton Kershaw is the All-Star among All-Stars as NL defeats AL

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton, Kershaw leaves the game during second inning at the MLB baseball All-Star game between the American League and National League, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Clayton Kershaw and Will Smith bump gloves when Kershaw leaves the game during second inning. (Brynn Anderson / Associated Press)

In a week where so much of the focus was on players who weren’t playing in the All-Star Game, and those who were selected that weren’t seen as deserving, it was the player who had been in more Midsummer Classics than anyone else who delivered the most profound reminder.

Before the start of Major League Baseball’s 95th All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta, National League manager Dave Roberts called upon longtime Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw to speak in the clubhouse.

And in an impromptu pregame speech as the team’s elder statesman, Kershaw imparted the most important lesson he’s learned from his 11 All-Star Games.

“The All-Star Game, it can be hard at times for the players,” Kershaw recounted when asked about his message to the team. “It’s a lot of travel, it’s a lot of stress, chaos, family, all this stuff.”

“But,” the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer added, “it’s meaningful, it’s impactful for the game, it’s important for the game. We have the best All-Star Game of any sport. We do have the best product. So to be here, to realize your responsibility to the sport is important … And I just said I was super honored to be part of it.”

Kershaw, admittedly, was picked for this year’s game for more sentimental reasons than anything.

After making only 10 starts in the first half of the year following offseason foot and knee surgeries, the future Hall of Famer was shoehorned in as a “Legend Pick” by commissioner Rob Manfred, getting the nod a week after becoming the 20th pitcher in MLB with 3,000 strikeouts.

Read more:Shaikin: Live from Atlanta: The next front in the war between MLB owners and players

The honor made Kershaw feel awkward, with the three-time Cy Young Award winner repeatedly joking that he hadn’t really deserved to return to the All-Star Game for the first time since 2023, despite his 4-1 record and 3.38 ERA so far this season.

At first, he acknowledged, he even had a little hesitancy about participating in this week’s festivities in Atlanta.

“My initial response was just, you don’t ever want to take somebody’s spot,” he said. “You don’t ever want to be a side show.”

A side show, however, Kershaw was not.

Instead, as the man with the most All-Star selections of anyone in this year’s game (and the fourth-most by a pitcher), Kershaw was at the center of one of the most memorable moments from the National League’s win on a tiebreaking home run derby after a 6-6 tie.

Upon entering the game at the start of the second inning, he retired the first two batters he faced; the latter, a strikeout looking of Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He then turned to the dugout to see Roberts coming to get him, ending what could very well be his final appearance in the Midsummer Classic (even though, he has made a point of noting, he has not made any decision on retirement after the season).

And as he exited the mound, he was serenaded with one of the night’s loudest ovations, waving a hand in appreciation before blowing a kiss to his family in the stands.

“I didn’t anticipate to be here. I definitely didn’t anticipate to pitch,” Kershaw said. “So it was awesome. So thankful for it now.”

Many others in Atlanta felt the same way about sharing the week with Kershaw.

Shohei Ohtani watches his base hit during the first inning.
Shohei Ohtani watches his base hit during the first inning. (Brynn Anderson / Associated Press)

NL starter Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates had the locker next to Kershaw in the Truist Park clubhouse, and joked his only hope was that veteran left-hander wouldn’t get sick of him by the end of the event.

“He’s such a class act, it’s just so impressive,” Skenes said. “We were in the waiting room before the red carpet today, and he had all his kids, and watching him as dad too, it was a cool experience.”

San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb recalled his memories of watching Kershaw while growing up in Northern California.

“I just respect him so much, watching him pitch,” Webb said. “You could’ve asked me five years ago, and you could’ve said Clayton Kershaw was a legend already. He is a legend. I’m just happy I’m able to share a clubhouse with him.”

Kershaw’s lighter side was on display Tuesday, as well, with the pitcher mic’d up with the Fox broadcast team for his brief outing.

“I’m gonna try to throw some cheese real quick, hold on,” he joked while unleashing an 89-mph fastball to Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, which turned into a lineout in left thanks to a diving effort from Kyle Tucker of the Chicago Cubs.

“Hey!” Kershaw exclaimed. “That was sick.”

On his first pitch to Guerrero, Kershaw threw another fastball that the Blue Jays' star took for a strike.

“Right down the middle,” Kershaw said. “I’m so glad he didn’t swing.”

When Guerrero got to a 1-and-1 count after a curveball in the dirt, Kershaw contemplated his next pitch.

“I think I probably gotta go slider,” he said. “Let’s see what Will thinks.”

Behind the plate, teammate Will Smith instead called for a curveball.

“Nope, he wants curveball again,” Kershaw laughed. “All right, fine.”

Read more:Rob Manfred: MLB won't cancel the 2028 All-Star Game for the Olympics

Guerrero swung through it — “Oh, got him,” he said — before freezing on a slider two pitches later for a called third strike.

“I’m getting blown up by former teammates saying, ‘Wow, you’ve changed so much,’ and they’re right,” Kershaw joked afterward, acknowledging his once-fiery demeanor never would have allowed him to embrace an in-game interview like that. “I don’t think I would’ve ever done that [in the past]. But it was actually kind of fun.”

Really, that was the theme of Kershaw’s whole week.

Reluctantly accepting his stature as one of the game’s most decorated players. Accepting an invitation designed to honor his career accomplishments. And providing a reminder of the All-Star Game’s meaning, in what will perhaps be his last time on such a stage.

“It’s a very awesome, special thing to get to come to All-Star Games,” he said. “I remember the first one, how special that was. And I don’t think a lot has changed for me over the years to get to come to these things. So I don’t take that for granted. I think it’s really awesome. I mean, I shouldn’t be here anyway, so it’s very possible this could be my last one. So it was just a very awesome night, special.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mets’ David Peterson turns attention to second half after ‘awesome’ All-Star experience

David Peterson made his first All-Star appearance on Tuesday night. 

Like the rest of his Mets teammates, he was greeted with heavy boos from the Truist Park crowd as he was introduced during the pregame festivities.

The southpaw was then the fifth pitcher to enter for the National League on the night, and he continued a strong stretch of pitching for the squad. 

Peterson set down Riley Greene with a slider out of the zone, then got Aaron Judge to roll over to Francisco Lindor, before allowing back-to-back singles to Home Run Derby champ Cal Raleigh and Vlad Guerrero Jr..

He was able to escape the threat just two pitches later, though, getting Baltimore’s Ryan O’Hearn to roll one softly right back to him, officially closing the book on his first All-Star inning with no runs against. 

He threw just 12 pitches during the efficient outing, 10 of which were strikes. 

Peterson became the first Mets pitcher to throw a scoreless inning in the ASG since Jacob deGrom (2019) -- funnily enough, the ace righty was in the opposing dugout on Tuesday representing the Rangers.

“It was awesome,” Peterson said. “To be out there and compete, to get Lindor a groundball and then finish the inning with an assist to Pete, it was a great experience -- I’m very honored to be a part of this and I had a lot of fun these past couple of days.”

With his festivities officially in the books, Peterson now turns his attention to the second half of the season. 

The left-hander was spectacular for New York during the opening half of the year -- stepping up masterfully with Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea sidelined to injuries, pitching to a 3.06 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 18 outings.

Now that they are back, Peterson feels the Mets are in a good spot.   

“It’s exciting having those guys back,” he said. “Seeing Senga come back, seeing Sean for the first time, I’m excited -- going to enjoy these next two days off but then get back to work and make that final push.”

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Pete Alonso becomes third player in Mets history to homer in All-Star Game: 'That beats any Derby win'

Pete Alonso and the rest of the Mets' All-Stars received boos from the Truist Park crowd pregame.

A few innings later, though, the slugger gave the rival crowd something to cheer about.

After Fernando Tatis Jr. and Brendan Donovan reached to lead off the inning, Alonso stepped to the plate looking to do some damage against Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic.

Bubic fell behind 1-0 and then tried to sneak a middle-middle fastball past the big man, but he was not fooled and smacked it 367 feet the other way for an opposite-field three-run homer.

Alonso became just the third Met to leave the yard in an All-Star Game, and the first since David Wright did so back in 2006.

"For me, I think that beats any Derby win," he said postgame. "That's really special, so I'm stoked. I was stoked to do that, stoked to preform the way I did today -- it was just an awesome and incredible experience."

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Francisco Lindor, Mets All-Stars booed by Atlanta crowd at 2025 All-Star Game

Francisco Lindor knew the type of reception he would get for the 2025 All-Star Game, and the Atlanta crowd did not disappoint.

After alluding to it leading into the All-Star break, the fans at Truist Park greeted the Mets' shortstop and his teammates to a chorus of boos.

During the introductions for the All-Star Game reserves and pitchers, once Pete Alonso, David Peterson and Edwin Diaz were introduced, the crowd booed them.

Alonso reveled in the boos and gave a big wave to the Atlanta crowd.

Lindor, hitting eighth in the starting lineup, was introduced with the rest of the National League All-Star starters and received even bigger boos after he was introduced as "Mr. Smiles."

The Mets shortstop gave a big smile and gave peace signs as he ran onto the field.

Lindor voted an All-Star starter for the first time in a Mets uniform and the reception isn’t too surprising considering the heated rivalry between the Mets and Braves. 

And to the Braves fans' credit, they booed Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies after they introduced the trio of Mets.

The All-Stars from the Marlins and Nationals were not greeted as enthusiastically.

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National League wins 2025 MLB All-Star Game with Home Run Derby swing off

National League wins 2025 MLB All-Star Game with Home Run Derby swing off originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

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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National League wins 2025 MLB All-Star Game with Home Run Derby swing off

National League wins 2025 MLB All-Star Game with Home Run Derby swing off originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

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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Yankees’ Max Fried receives warm welcome back to Atlanta at 2025 All-Star Game

Max Fried may not be playing in the All-Star Game, but he wasn’t going to miss out on the opportunity for a homecoming. 

The Yankees’ ace passed his spot on the AL roster to teammate Carlos Rodon with his rotation turn being too close to the action and then an issue with a blister popping up, but he still decided to be in attendance. 

The game, of course, is being played in Atlanta, where Fried spent the first eight years of his big league career before signing in the Bronx. 

When the 31-year-old southpaw was announced during introductions for the American League, he received arguably one of the biggest rounds of applause of the night -- not including Freddie Freeman and the current Braves All-Stars.

“It’s weird but also really comfortable [being back],” Fried said earlier on MLB Network. “Obviously, I’m in a new place, but I come back and see a lot of the staff that were here, whether it be the training staff or the coaches or players, just everyone involved.

“Walking back in, I’m very familiar with the people and the facilities, so I’m very comfortable but now I’m on the other side, I’m in the other clubhouse, I’m learning that -- so it is nice to be able to open the next series and get a little familiar.”

Fried and the Yanks, of course, kick off the second half at Truist Park on Friday night. 

It’s still unknown whether or not he’ll be able to take the mound during that three-game weekend series, but he did say during Monday’s All-Star Media Day that his blister was feeling a bit better.

Fried's slotted in perfectly as New York's ace during his first year with the club -- winning 11 of his 20 starts in the first half and pitching to a stellar 2.43 ERA.

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Jose Butto throws scoreless inning with FCL Mets

Jose Butto tossed a scoreless inning on Tuesday morning in Port St. Lucie with the FCL Mets.

The right-hander struck out the first batter he faced before giving up a line drive single to right, but he quickly ended the inning just a few pitches later with a routine double play ball. 

Butto needed just 12 pitches (eight strikes) to get through the easy inning of work. 

Carlos Mendoza said Sunday in Kansas City that the team will see how he feels after this outing before deciding whether or not he’ll be activated for Friday’s second-half opener against the Reds. 

The reliever has been on the injured list for about two weeks due to an illness. 

Getting him back into the mix would be a huge boost for a Mets bullpen that’s struggled a bit as they’ve worked through a handful of injuries over the past few weeks. 

Butto was a relatively steady multi-inning arm for that group during the first half this year -- pitching to a 2.47 ERA and 1.26 WHIP across 31 appearances.

He allowed just one unearned run and struck out 13 batters during a terrific month of June.

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How Giants pitchers Logan Webb, Randy Rodríguez fared in 2025 MLB All-Star Game

How Giants pitchers Logan Webb, Randy Rodríguez fared in 2025 MLB All-Star Game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It was a tale of two pitchers for the Giants during the 2025 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night at Truist Park.

San Francisco ace Logan Webb and reliever Randy Rodríguez both pitched in the Midsummer Classic with different results, while left-hander Robbie Ray watched from the dugout after starting against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.

Webb made his second career All-Star Game appearance this year after pitching one inning and surrendering three earned runs in the 2024 showcase. This time around went much better for the 28-year-old, who tossed a scoreless third inning to maintain what at that point was a 2-0 National League lead.

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero reached on a leadoff single before Webb got Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez to ground out to third for the inning’s first out. Then, Athletics rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson flew out to left field, followed by a groundout from Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres to leave Caminero stranded and Webb unscathed.

Webb only needed 11 pitches to get through the four American League All-Stars he faced, topping out at 92.7 mph on the first-pitch sinker that Caminero singled on. Webb threw four sweepers, four changeups and three sinkers while eliciting three swings-and-misses from the four batters he faced.

Rodríguez entered the All-Star Game in Atlanta with the best ERA among all MLB relievers, but the typically lights-out right-hander wasn’t able to get it done when he replaced Adrian Morejon in the top of the seventh with no outs and runners on first and second.

Athletics slugger Brent Rooker took Rodríguez deep, driving a 2-0 four-seam fastball over the left-center field wall to break up the National League’s shutout and make the game 6-3.

Rodríguez then walked Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia. He got Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton to line out to left, but then Garcia, who advanced to third base after a steal and an error, scored on a groundout by Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

After New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. reached on a fielding error by Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson, NL manager Dave Roberts replaced Rodríguez with Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Trevor Megill, who got out of the inning.

Rodríguez was charged with two runs, one earned, in his first All-Star Game across 2/3 innings of work. But Rooker’s home run started an AL rally, and the group scored six unanswered runs before eventually tying the game in the top of the ninth inning and forcing the first-ever All-Star Game swing-off.

It all ended up OK in the end, however, as Kyle Schwarber’s three homers on three swings helped the NL finish the swing-off with a 4-3 victory and the official All-Star Game win.

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Athletics star Brent Rooker does his part in first-ever All-Star Game swing-off

Athletics star Brent Rooker does his part in first-ever All-Star Game swing-off originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

What a night for Brent Rooker.

After kicking off the American League’s game-tying rally from a 6-0 deficit with a three-run home run, the Athletics designated hitter came up clutch in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game’s first-ever swing-off with two blasts.

Rooker’s heroic effort wasn’t enough, however, to help his squad secure the Midsummer Classic win.

He was the first AL hitter — and first ever in MLB — to step into the box for the swing-off, the All-Star Game tiebreaker format that was implemented in 2022 but never used until now. Rooker certainly made the most of his three swings and was helped out by Randy Arozarena, who hit one homer, before Jonathan Aranda couldn’t get one over the wall.

The A’s slugger only was outdone by Kyle Schwarber, who miraculously homered on all three of his swings to put the National League up 4-3 following Kyle Stowers’ lone shot . From there, Pete Alonso didn’t even have to hit after Aranda’s three swings.

No MLB player ever has been able to say they took part in more than one Home Run Derby during the All-Star Game festivities. But even after being robbed of the opportunity to advance in Monday night’s derby, Rooker now is the only player who can.

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National League wins 2025 MLB All-Star Game with Home Run Derby swing off

National League wins 2025 MLB All-Star Game with Home Run Derby swing off originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

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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Ex-MLB pitcher Dan Serafini found guilty of murder: 'It's been four years of hell'

FILE - Italy's Dan Serafini throws before the first inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday, March 6, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
Dan Serafini warms up before a 2013 exhibition spring training game against the Angels in Tempe, Ariz. Serafini pitched for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. (Morry Gash / Associated Press)

Dan Serafini was a first-round draft pick from a prestigious private high school. He pitched professionally for 22 seasons and earned more than $14 million while with six Major League teams and two in the Japanese League.

Now he might spend the rest of his life in prison.

Serafini, 51, was convicted Monday of first-degree murder in the 2021 shooting death of his father-in-law, Robert Gary Spohr, 70. He also was found guilty of the attempted murder of Spohr's wife, Wendy Wood, and first-degree burglary.

Serafini entered the Spohrs' Lake Tahoe home June 5, 2021, where prosecutors said he secretly waited with a .22 caliber gun for several hours for the victims to return before ambushing them. Two children, ages 3 years and 8 months, were in the home at the time.

“The guilty verdicts come after a six-week trial during which the jury heard testimony from dozens of witnesses and the presentation of physical evidence, including digital, cell phone, and other forensic evidence,” according to a Facebook post from the Placer County District Attorney’s Office.

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According to evidence presented at trial, when the Spohrs arrived, Serafini shot both of them in the head and fled the house. Wood survived and called 911. She died by suicide in 2023.

Two years later police arrested Serafini and his nanny-turned-lover, Samantha Scott, 33. Scott pleaded guilty in February to an accessory charge.

Serafini's motive centered on a $1.3-million dispute over the renovation of a ranch, according to prosecutors. Serafini, prosecutors said, hated his in-laws and had written "I'm gonna kill them one day" in a text message mentioning $21,000, according to ABC News Sacramento affiliate KXTV. The victims had given $90,000 to Serafini's wife, Erin, the day of the shootings.

"It's been four years since my mom and dad were shot, and it's been four years of just hell," said Adrienne Spohr, the victims' daughter and Serafini's sister-in-law, said after the verdict.

Adrienne Spohr was heard gasping and crying along with others in the courtroom when the verdict was read aloud, according to KXTV. Serafini shook his head in disagreement.

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The mandatory minimum for first-degree murder with a firearm enhancement is 25 years to life, but could increase to 35 years depending on how the charges are applied.

"My parents had been incredibly generous to Daniel Serafini and Erin Spohr throughout their marriage," Adrienne Spohr said earlier in the trial.

The Minnesota Twins made Serafini their first-round draft pick in 1992 out of Junipero Serra High in San Mateo, the same school all-time home run king Barry Bonds attended. Serafini made his big league debut in 1996 with the Twins and pitched in parts of seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.

Serafini pitched in Japan from 2004-2007 before returning to the U.S. He was suspended for 50 games in 2007 for using performance-enhancing drugs that he blamed on medication he took in Japan. He also pitched for Italy in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

On June 28, 2015, Serafini's bar in Sparks, Nev., was featured on an episode of Bar Rescue. The bar's named was changed from The Bullpen Bar to The Oak Tavern as part of the makeover, but not before his financial woes were described as blowing through $14 million in career earnings and taking a $250,000 loan from his parents.

Serafini's sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 18. He will remain in custody without bail until then.

"At this point, our focus is on the sentencing and making sure that Dan Serafini never sees the outside of a jail ever again," Adrienne Spohr said.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Manfred says MLB in better position to reach broadcast agreements for 2026-28

ATLANTA — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says the sport is in better position to reach national broadcasting agreements for 2026-28 after he attended the annual Allen & Co. Conference of media and finance leaders in Idaho.

ESPN said in February it was ending after this season its agreement to broadcast Sunday night games, the All-Star Home Run Derby and the Wild Card Series. MLB's other agreements, with Fox and TBS, run through the 2028 season, and MLB wants all its national broadcast contracts to end at the same time.

Manfred said in early June he hoped to reach a deal before the All-Star break.

“I had a great week last week. I was in Sun Valley,” he told the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday. “I had a lot of conversations that moved us significantly closer to a deal and I don’t believe it’s going to be long.”

MLB has been starting to assemble local rights and this season is producing and distributing broadcasts of Arizona, Cleveland, Colorado, Minnesota and San Diego.

“I think it’s very important, in fact, crucial, that when we go to the market for our post-'28 deals, that we have the ability to say to our broadcast partners: We have all these rights, what have traditionally been our national, what have traditionally have been our local, let’s cut them up in a way that is the best in terms of reaching our fans and maximizing our revenue," he said. “And I think in an environment that’s as disrupted as the current media environment, that kind of flexibility is absolutely crucial.”

“I see the MLB media operating of clubs as an interim arrangement to get us to 2028,” he added. “It’s not a goal that I’m pursuing in and of itself. Rather, it is an interim step for clubs that we happen to provide the best alternative given what’s happened in the local markets.”

Manfred describes broadcast rights and the collective bargaining agreement as key factors in franchise values. The economic study committee established two years ago has looked into those issues.

“It was never a mask for labor,” Manfred said. “It was a process designed to think through why, what about our economic system has put us in a position where our franchise values have not grown as quickly as some other sports and try to figure out how we might fix that.”

Tampa Bay, controlled by Stuart Sternberg since October 2005, said last month it had entered exclusive discussions for a sale to a group led by Patrick Zalupski, Bill Cosgrove and Ken Babby, and The Athletic reported Monday that a sale is expected to be finalized by September.

“I have no reason to quibble with or dispute the reports that have been out there,” Manfred said.

Because of damage caused to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg last October by Hurricane Milton, the Rays are playing home games this season at Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees spring training facility in Tampa.

“We think we’re going to be ready to play in ‘26 in the Trop,” Manfred said, adding that there are contingency plans to start the season elsewhere before moving to Tropicana Field later in the year if the stadium isn’t ready by opening day. He didn't say what the contingency plans were.

The Pohlad family announced last October it was exploring a sale of the team, which the family has controlled since 1984. Justin Ishbia, a brother of Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia, was thought to be interested, but the Chicago White Sox announced last month he was becoming a limited partner in a deal that could allow him to become the controlling owner.

“A big part of the delay in Minnesota was associated with the leader in clubhouse making the decision to do something else,” Manfred said. “There will be a transaction. You just need to be patient while they rework.”

Moving from Oakland, the Athletics are playing the first of what the team says will be three seasons at a Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento.

“If I had a brand new gleaming stadium to move them into, we would have done that,” Manfred said. “Right now it is my expectation that they will play in Sacramento until they move to Las Vegas."

Manfred addressed MLB's efforts to monitor sports gambling, which led in June 2024 to a lifetime ban of San Diego's Tucupita Marcano along with one-year suspensions of four players, the firing of umpire Pat Hoberg in February and a pending probe into Cleveland pitcher Luis Ortiz.

MLB increased efforts after the U.S. Supreme Court in May 2018 struck down a federal law that had barred betting on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states.

“I know there was a lot of sports betting, tons of it that went on illegally and we had no idea, no idea what threats there were to the integrity of the play because it was all not transparent," Manfred said. "I firmly believe that the transparency and monitoring that we have in place now, as a result of the legalization and the partnerships that we’ve made, puts us in a better position to protect baseball than we were in before.”

MLB has hoped for legal modifications, including around prop bets.

“There are certain types of bets that strike me as unnecessary and particularly vulnerable, things where it’s one single act doesn’t affect the outcome necessarily,” he added.

MLB removed mention of its diversity from its MLB Careers webpage in March, following the start of the Trump administration.

“Sometimes you have to look at how the world’s changing around you and readjust where you are,” Manfred said. “There were certain aspects of some of our programs that were very, very explicitly race-based and/or gender-based. We know because there were public comments to the effect that people in Washington were aware of that and we felt it was important to recast our programs in a way to make sure that we can continue on with our programs, to continue to pursue the values that we have always adhered to without tripping what could be legal problems that would interfere with that process.”

Manfred mentioned Baltimore, Boston and Toronto as possible future sites for All-Star Games.

Manfred wouldn't speculate whether MLB will try to cut minor league affiliates from 120 to 90 when current Professional Development Licenses expire after the 2030 season.

“There is a lot going on. College baseball's changing big time,” he said. “It’s just impossible for me to speculate but don’t take that as he thinks it’s going to be smaller or bigger.”

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Manfred Expects Rays to Be Sold, Play 2026 Season in the Trop

ATLANTA — Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday he expects the $1.7 billion sale of the Tampa Bay Rays from Stu Sternberg to Jacksonville, Fla., developer Patrick Zalupski to move forward. Sportico broke the news that the two sides were in advanced talks in June.

“I have no reason to quibble with or dispute the rumors that are out there about the Tampa sale,” Manfred said during his annual pre-All-Star Game briefing with members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

As far as the process is concerned, Zalupski must be vetted by MLB’s owners committee, which will pass its recommendation on to the 29 other owners for a vote. As in all ownership issues, 75% of that group must approve the franchise transfer.

Manfred would not comment on the current status of the sale process. Sternberg bought the team in 2004 for $200 million.

Sternberg has previously scuttled two deals related to ballpark projects on both sides of Tampa Bay. Most recently, the team pulled out of a projected $1.3 billion ballpark deal in St. Petersburg adjacent to the hurricane damaged Tropicana Field earlier this year. Manfred had urged Sternberg to sell the Rays after that.

The Rays are playing this season in 11,000-seat Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees. The team will remain in the Tampa Bay area for at least the next three seasons by virtue of their lease with the city of St. Petersburg, Fla., and depending on when the facility is reopened. A new home will be addressed when and if the team is sold.

Manfred said he expects the renovated facility to be ready by the start of the 2026 season, but MLB has contingencies if that doesn’t happen.

“Look, we think we’re going to be ready to play 2026 in the Trop,” Manfred said. “I’m not going to get into details, but we do have contingency plans if the Trop is not ready to go in 2026. This is not the Rays telling us we’re going to be ready. We have our own engineers on site monitoring construction, so we do believe we’re going to be ready to go.”

The St. Pete City Council voted in April to apportion $22.5 million to reconstruct the roof of the ballpark, which is made of Teflon slats that were destroyed last October by Hurricane Milton. By contract, the government entity is legally required to maintain Tropicana and repair it in the case of catastrophic damage.

The roof slats are being manufactured overseas and are not expected to be installed until after the current hurricane season.

More funds will be needed to fix flood damage inside the ballpark, which is expected to become more severe throughout the rest of the summer. The entire repair could cost in excess of $50 million.

As far as where the Rays might play postseason games in 2025 if they happen to make the playoffs, Manfred told the Tampa Bay Times that it will be at Steinbrenner Field.

The Rays are currently fourth and 5.5 games back in the American League East and fourth in the AL Wild Card race, 1.5 games behind Seattle in the third spot.

“Our rule has always been that people play in their home stadiums during the World Series,” Manfred said. “And I’m not of a mind to change that rule. I understand it’s a unique situation. It’s different, but that’s where they’re playing. That’s where they’re going to play their games.”

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