Paul Skenes Has Clean All-Star Game Inning, Ohtani Hits Massive Homer

The 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game experience has been a massive success…if you want to showcase the game's best players.

Pittsburgh Pirates superstar rookie Paul Skenes started the game for the National League, the first time a rookie has started the All-Star Game. 

On the game's biggest regular season stage, Skenes worked a clean inning, retiring New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge to retire the side. 

Skenes allowed just a walk to Juan Soto before departing the game after one inning. Routinely hitting 100mph, he showed how he's quickly gone from being the "future" of MLB to being the immediate present.

After arguably the best pitcher in the sport did his job, the National League jumped out to a big lead early, thanks to arguably the game's best hitter. After back-to-back singles set the table, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani launched a massive homer to right center field for a 3-0 lead. 

ARLINGTON, Texas - National League designated hitter Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the third inning against the American League during the 2024 MLB All-Star game at Globe Life Field on July 16. Photo: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

MLB All-Star Game Showcases Game's Best Players

The All-Star Game is supposed to be a showcase for baseball's best and brightest, and through the first few innings, that's exactly what they got. 

MLB must be thrilled, with Skenes and Ohtani, two of the league's biggest names performing as hoped through the early part of the game. In typical All-Star Game fashion though, the American League stormed back in the third inning, putting up three runs on Giants starter Logan Webb.

A two-run homer by Jarren Duran then gave the AL a 5-3 lead through the middle innings.

But for an exhibition designed to highlight the most talented players, the league's gotten exactly what it wants. Now MLB just needs the playoffs to cooperate too.