The American League wins again in the Major League All-Star game, 5-3 in Arlington, Texas, but the Pirates’ two representatives did their best. National League starting pitcher Paul Skenes set down the American League stars without a hit in the first inning while Bryan Reynolds singled sharply to left in his first at-bat in the seventh, but struck out on a foul tip to end the game in the ninth against Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase.
Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run homer to give the AL the lead. Oakland A’s closer Mason Miller, who’s from Bethel Park in Allegheny County, was credited with the victory. It was the tenth win in the last eleven All-Star games for the AL.
Skenes got leadoff hitter Steven Kwan to pop up to shortstop Trea Turner in shallow left field, then Gunnar Henderson grounded out to Skenes. After a seven-pitch walk to Juan Soto, the Pirates’ rookie faced Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, inducing a first-pitch chopper to third baseman Alec Bohm, who threw to second for the forceout, ending the inning.
Skenes said it was enjoyable soaking up the All-Star atmosphere.
Skenes was pumped up when Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani homered in the third inning to give the NL a 3-0 lead. He’d pitched against Ohtani on June 5th, striking him out and giving up a home run in two at-bats. The homer last night was impressive.
Now it’s back to business for the Pirates. They will gather at PNC Park tomorrow to work out and then resume the season Friday night, opening a six-game homestand with the first of three against the cross-state rival Phillies.
The Pirates took nine college players and one high schooler on the final day of the MLB Draft yesterday. Of the ten players chosen, six are pitchers. They also took third-team All-American catcher Camden Janik of the University of Illinois, along with two outfielders and an outfielder/infielder.
Their final pick of the draft was right-handed Kentucky high school pitcher Taylor Penn, who is committed to play college ball at Western Kentucky University.
The Pirates’ draft summary shows the team took eleven pitchers, four shortstops, three outfielders, two catchers, and a third baseman. One of the pitchers, eighth-round pick Gavin Adams of Florida State, is recovering from Tommy John surgery
MLB
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred held a “state-of-the-sport” event in Arlington yesterday. Among his topics were concerns for player safety as it relates to gambling, saying that players are receiving threats, but he would not say more.
Manfred said MLB is hoping to test robot umpires as part of a challenge system during spring training next year, and could make an automated ball-strike component possible as early as 2026.
He also indicated that talks have gained steam in regard to MLB players participating in the 2028 Summer Olympics.
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