Stanton, Buxton lead AL over NL in 9th straight All-Star win July 19 sharefacebooktwitterredditlink LOS ANGELES (AP) Giancarlo Stanton homered in a sweet spot in his Dodger Stadium homecoming at the All-Star Game, with 50 family and friends in the stands where he watched games as a youngster.Byron Buxton followed with another drive and the American League won its ninth straight Midsummer Cla sic, beating the National League 3-2 on Tuesday night.Fans rooting for a tie score after nine innings so they could see a first-time home run derby decide it instead of extra innings didnt get their wish.Instead, the back-to-back homers in the fourth inning were the difference as the AL boosted its overall edge to 47-43-2.Facing 11-game winner Tony Gonsolin of the Dodgers, Stantons impre sive 457-foot, two-run shot landed in the left-field pavilion Nick Cousins Kids Jersey . Stanton and his father, Mike, would sit in that section after buying tickets off scalpers for whatever price they could afford.My pops took me to my first Dodger game, showed me how to have love for this game and now were here, the New York Yankees slugger said on the field. Look at us, its just incredible.Stanton was chosen the game's MVP, receiving the award from two-time MVP Steve Garvey and Billie Jean King, part of the Dodgers ownership. Stanton had 50 family and friends on hand.It hasnt fully sank in, he said. Its going to be an amazing memory for all of our lives.The homer ended Stanton's career 0 for 7 skid in the game and at 111.2 mph, it was the hardest-hit homer in an All-Star Game tracked by Statcast. Also scoring was Jos Ramrez, tying the game 2-all.Four pitches later, Buxton went deep to give the AL a 3-2 lead against a clearly frustrated Gonsolin, who took the lo s.Nine-time All-Star Clayton Kershaw got the first start of his career for the NL in his home ballpark, with the Dodgers hosting for the first time since 1980. Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani pounded out the game's first hit on Kershaw's first pitch.Framber Valdez of Houston got the win, to sing a scorele s third inning.AL starter Shane McClanahan of Tampa Bay gave up two runs and four hits. The first-time All-Star, who owns an MLB-leading 1.71 ERA, had allowed four hits or fewer in his last seven starts.McClanahan combined with 10 other pitchers on the five-hitter. Emmanuel Clase struck out the side in the ninth to earn the save. Austin Rileys single in the eighth was the NLs only hit after the first inning. Ohtani led off for the AL as the designated hitter. Interviewed Oliver Ekman-Larsson Kids Jersey moments before the start, the Japanese superstar said, in English, he was going to swing. He cracked a 91-mph fastball into center field on the first pitch.I was definitely swinging a hundred percent, Ohtani later said through a translator. Kershaw has really good command.His hit snapped an 0 for 8 streak as a hitter against Kershaw. Last year, Ohtani was the starting pitcher and led off as the DH in the ALs Michael Stone Men Jersey 5-2 win at Denver. He didnt pitch this year so he can start Friday in the Angels first game after the break at Atlanta.I mean, you cant throw the first pitch of an All-Star Game as a breaking ball, Kershaw said. You kind of had to give him a heater there, I think just for everything. Had to do it.But the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner had the last word. Kershaw fired a pickoff throw to first that caught Ohtani off the bag. Honestly, I didnt know quite know what to throw yet. Sometimes I throw over there for a second to be convicted with the pitch, Kershaw said. I wasnt trying to pick him off. I was trying to delay the game for a bit, but it worked out.Then the Yankees' Aaron Judge, who leads the majors in home runs, went down swinging. After Rafael Devers walked, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded into a fielder's choice, and Kershaw walked off to applause from the appreciative crowd.I tried to take a minute at the beginning to take it all in and look around, which I usually never do, Kershaw said. It kind of calmed everything down for me and then I had a lot of fun.The NL wasted no time in taking its first 2-0 lead in 10 years. Styling in yellow spikes and alternate yellow and red sleeves, Ronald Acua Jr. led off the bottom of the first with a ground-rule double to left and scored on Mookie Betts' single. Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo homer with two outs.In between runs, AL second baseman Andrs Gimnez made a defensive stop on Manny Machado and followed with a dazzling behind-the-back to s to shortstop Tim Anderson, who threw to first to complete the double play.A sellout crowd of 52,518 filled Dodger Stadium two years after the third-oldest ballpark in the majors was supposed to host before the game was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.HERES TO YOU, MS. ROBINSONDodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, with all of the other All-Stars bunched behind him, led the crowd in sending out 100th birthday wishes to Rachel Robinson. On his 1-2-3 count, the crowd and players shouted Happy birthday, Rachel! The widow of Jackie Robinson didnt travel from her home in Connecticut. She visited Dodger Stadium in Louis Domingue Kids Jersey April on Jackie Robinson Day to mark the 75th anniversary of her husband breaking baseballs color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Jackie Robinsons achievement was honored with on-field comments by Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington and a presentation on the video boards.FIRST PITCHBacked by a mariachi band, Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela to sed out the ceremonial first pitch. Fittingly, first-time All-Star Alejandro Kirk of Toronto served as catcher. Kirk and Valenzuela were both born in Mexico. Fernandomania gripped the Dodgers in 1981, when the left-hander won Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in helping LA win the World Series.FASHION CRITICSThe reviews were mostly negative for the second straight Luke Schenn Kids Jersey year on the All-Star uniforms. The AL wore dark gray uniforms that blended into the plate umpires black shirt and dark gray pants. The NL wore all-white uniforms. Both had gold lettering. Fans were critical on social media, with atrocious a frequent critique. Last year, MLB went away from wearing traditional jerseys, which met with heavy online criticism.MICED UP MANOAHAlek Manoah, Torontos expre sive right-hander, wore a microphone and earpiece while pitching the second inning, engaging in an entertaining conversation with Fox analyst and Hall of Famer John Smoltz. How hard am I throwing? Manoah asked early. He also sought scouting reports on Joc Pederson and Acua Jr. Manoah did fine, striking out three and also plunking Jeff McNeil with a pitch. A lot of players were miced up. Fans heard Yankees teammates Aaron Judge and Stanton talking back and forth while playing the outfield, and Yankees batterymates Nestor Cortes and Jose Trevino talking while working together.THE SHIFT IS STILL ONDodgers