AL shuts out NL to win 96th MLB All-Star Game

The American League reigns supreme in 2026, as the Junior Circuit limited the National League to three hits in a 4-0 win during the 96th MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

It's the first time since 2013 that a league was held to three hits or fewer, per Stathead. That was also the last All-Star Game shutout - another AL win - before Tuesday's contest.

The AL, which has now won 11 of the last 13 All-Star Games, improved its record to 49-45-2 since the inaugural game in 1933.

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger - named the game's MVP - drove in the winning runs in the first inning with a two-run single off Philadelphia Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez. Bellinger's Yankees teammate Ben Rice added another RBI single in the first.

Sánchez was starting in his home ballpark and got a roaring ovation from the Philadelphia faithful, but struggled to put away hitters during his lone inning of work.

Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas launched a seventh-inning homer, the only extra-base hit of the game for either side.

AL pitchers struck out 15 NL batters, one shy of the single-game record. Ten different AL hurlers recorded a K to tie an All-Star record, according to ESPN Insights.

Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease, who was credited with the win, struck out three in his lone inning of work. He's the seventh starting pitcher to record three Ks in the first inning of an All-Star Game, joining a list that includes Hall of Famers Carl Hubbell, Warren Spahn, Jim Palmer, and Pedro Martínez, as well as Blue Jays great Dave Stieb, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.

The midseason exhibition featured plenty of pomp and circumstance, much of it centered around celebrating America's 250th birthday in the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Members of both leagues' starting lineups signed their names on a Declaration-inspired lineup card.

Later, MLB stopped the game for a "Sandlot"-inspired montage that ended with kids bicycling on the field and interacting with the All-Stars, while footage of Ray Charles singing "America The Beautiful" in 2001 played on the jumbotron.

Although the NL struggled overall, the Senior Circuit did have its moments. Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski struck out five in his first All-Star Game, while Washington Nationals southpaw Foster Griffin - a 30-year-old rookie who returned to the majors this season after a three-year stint in Japan - notched two Ks.

There was one scary moment when Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero left the game after being hit in the hand by a pitch from Riley O'Brien. However, Caminero avoided serious injury and is expected to play when the second half resumes.