Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado had a pair of singles and closer Greg Holland notched two strikeouts in the National League’s 2-1 loss to the American League in the 2017 MLB All-Star Game.
Arenado was the NL’s only player to finish with a multi-hit game. The 26-year-old, three-time All-Star looped an offering from Boston Red Sox left-hander into right field in the second inning and smoked a grounder to left against Kansas City Royals starter Jason Vargas two innings later. However, Arenado was thrown out by Red Sox center fielder Mookie Betts while trying to advance to second base on a fly ball off the bat of the Washington Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman, putting a quick end to the NL’s hopes of getting on the board first.
In a 1-1 game in the eighth inning, Holland was called upon by NL and Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon to face the Royals’ Mike Moustakas, Justin Upton of the Detroit Tigers, and Michael Brantley of the Cleveland Indians. Holland made quick work of the first two, striking out Upton, before serving up a single to Brantley. But the three-time All-Star got Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor fishing for a slider to end the inning and keep the tie intact.
Charlie Blackmon, who started in center field and led off the game for the NL, finished 0-for-2 with a first-inning lineout and a third-inning strikeout.
DJ LeMahieu, the Rockies’ fourth All-Star, was held out of the game while he continues to deal with a nagging groin injury.
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina homered off of Minnesota Twins righty Ervin Santana in the sixth to provide the NL with its lone run. Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano, who earned All-Star Game MVP honors, took Cubs closer Wade Davis deep in the top of the 10th, giving the AL the eventual game-winning run.