National League ends 9-game losing streak behind Elías Díaz home run

SEATTLE — The National League players ended a nine-game losing streak against their American League counterparts on Tuesday in the MLB All-Star Game. After trailing for much of the contest, they went ahead on a two-run home run from Elías Díaz in the eighth inning.

The American League got on the board first with a second-inning home run from Yandy Díaz. In the fourth, the National League tied it 1-1 on a double from J.D. Martinez and a single from Luis Arráez. The AL went ahead again in the sixth on a sac fly from Bo Bichette after Salvador Perez and Brent Rooker reached base. In the seventh, it briefly appeared that the NL had tied things 2-2, but then a would-be home run from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was ruled a foul ball. In the bottom of the ninth, the AL had two on with a chance to win it, but closer Craig Kimbrel squeaked out the victory.

Here’s our inning-by-inning breakdown of the action from Seattle’s T-Mobile Park.

Ninth inning: NL 3, AL 2

Zach Crizer: The last time the National League won the All-Star Game was in 2012 — when there were more current players involved than you might think. Justin Verlander took the loss for the AL. Clayton Kershaw and Craig Kimbrel, each 2023 All-Stars, pitched for the NL.

In the top of the ninth against Pablo Lopez, Juan Soto and Nick Castellanos got on base with singles, but the NL hitters didn’t get any insurance runs out of it.

ZC: If the NL holds on, remember this lightning-fast double-play turned on a line drive by Austin Riley and Pete Alonso. That might prevent us (or deprive us, depending on your perspective) from seeing a tiebreaker Home Run Derby.

Craig Kimbrel came in to attempt to close it out for the National League. After two quick outs, local nemesis Kyle Tucker came to the plate, and Kimbrel walked him to put the tying run on base … and bring Julio Rodríguez up to bat, with raucous “Ju-li-o!” chants ensuing.

ZC: Mariners fans have been lustily booing Astros players all night. Just there, they booed Kyle Tucker but then roared as he walked to bring Julio Rodríguez to the plate as the potential winning run.

ZC: Craig Kimbrel walks Rodríguez, and we won’t have the ultimate dramatic moment tonight. Instead, José Ramírez comes up with two men on, but Kimbrel finds the zone and strikes him out to clinch the NL’s first All-Star Game win since 2012. Elias Díaz plays the hero and wins MVP. Camilo Doval gets the win, and Craig Kimbrel hangs on to get the save.

Hannah Keyser: “Oh my god, that was unbelievable,” Rodríguez said afterward. “I definitely was trying to win it, honestly.”

Eighth inning: NL 3, AL 2

With Felix Bautista pitching, Nick Castellanos drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Elías Díaz hit one out of the park to give the National League its first lead of the night — and a chance at its first All-Star Game victory since 2012. Three outs around a Will Smith walk completed the inning.

In the bottom half of the inning, Josh Hader gave up a…