CINCINNATI -- Mike Trout flashed the skill that has put him at the front of baseball's new generation, just moments after four of the all-time greats walked off the field.
Trout became the first player in 38 years to homer leading off an All-Star Game, then became the first player to take home the Midsummer Classic's MVP award two years in row.
A new-look All-Star Game finished with the same old result. The American League beat the National League 6-3 Tuesday night and will open the World Series at home for the 10th time in 13 years.
"It's obviously a humbling honor with the MVPs," Trout said in his usual understated, aw-shucks manner.
After Trout completed a career All-Star Game cycle in just his fifth big league season, Prince Fielder delivered. He drove in two runs, including a fifth-inning RBI single off Clayton Kershaw that sent Trout blazing home ahead of Joc Pederson's throw to break a 1-1 tie and put the AL ahead for good.
In an age of dominant pitching, Felix Hernandez, winner David Price, Zach Britton, Dellin Betances and Wade Davis took scoreless turns in the AL's third win a row.
Playing on the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels, Trout could add an even bigger honor this fall -- his first World Series ring.
"He can do anything that anybody can do on a baseball field," AL manager Ned Yost said. "He can hit with power. He can run. He can drive the gap. He's a great defender. He's just special. When you look at Mike, you don't look at a 23-year-old. You look at a guy that is one of the best baseball players on this planet."
A season after the retirement of Derek Jeter dropped the curtain on the turn-of-century greats, Trout was among six starting position players under 25 -- the most since 1965. At last year's game in Minneapolis, he hit a tiebreaking triple and later a go-ahead double.
This time Trout sent Zack Greinke's fourth pitch, a 94 mph fastball on the outer half of the plate, over the wall in right next to the visiting bullpen for an opposite-field homer.
Trout joined Willie Mays, Steve Garvey, Gary Carter and Cal Ripken Jr. as the only two-time All-Star MVPs. He is also the AL's reigning regular-season MVP.
Stars old and young gathered in one of baseball's most traditional towns. The Reds became baseball's first professional team in 1869, and players wore caps with horizontal stripes in an attempt to evoke a 19th-century feel.
Pete Rose, Cincinnati's hometown hero and baseball's banned career hits leader, was given an 80-second ovation when he walked onto the field before the game to join Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Barry Larkin, elected by fans as the Reds' greatest players. Wearing a red jacket and tie and walking stiffly, Rose, 74, was applauded as soon as his image appeared on the video boards, even before he emerged from the AL dugout.
And in the first All-Star Game at Great American Ballpark, which opened in 2003, fans got to see some great ballplayers.
Bench, changed into a blue jacket, returned with Hank Aaron, Mays and Sandy Koufax, voted baseball's great living players by fans as part of the promotion. In a sentimental yet stunning reminder of generational change, Aaron, 81, and Morgan, 71, needed canes to reach the infield, and Mays, 84, was aided on and off the field by an assistant.
"Growing up, I didn't get to see them play that much," Trout said. "But looking up, seeing highlights of all the Hall of Famers, it's something I really look forward to looking at, and I'm learning more about them, just how great they played in every respect of the game."
Above the field, new commissioner Rob Manfred watched from a luxury suite. It was the first All-Star Game not presided over by Bud Selig since 1992.
Many players of the new generation love bling in a manner that puzzles the old guard: Posey wore a gold-colored helmet behind the plate, looking a bit like the Great Gazoo or a member of the Praetorian Guard, accessorizing with a chest protector, shin guards and cleats all with gold-colored trim. Baltimore's Adam Jones was shod in bright orange cleats, and Kansas City's Lorenzo Cain and Washington's Bryce Harper donned golden spikes.
Trout, a Generation Y star with a baby boomer work ethic, completed a unique cycle on a clear evening that followed a heavy afternoon downpour.
He singled in his All-Star debut in 2012, doubled to open the 2013 game and tripled in the first inning last year. He was just the ninth player to hit for an All-Star Game cycle in his entire career, joining an illustrious list that includes Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Roberto Clemente, Ernie Banks, George Brett, Mike Schmidt and Mays. Fielder later became the 10th.
No one had homered leading off an All-Star Game since 1977 at old Yankee Stadium, when Morgan connected off Jim Palmer. Greinke, coming off five scoreless outings, had not allowed a run since June 13.
"It's not easy," Greinke said of pitching to Trout. "You've got like a two-inch window up in the zone. If you throw it higher than that, he takes it. If you throw it lower, he does what he did."
Fielder and Lorenzo Cain had run-scoring hits in the fifth against Kershaw, the reigning NL MVP, that put the AL ahead 3-1.
Manny Machado, at 23 another of the sport's fresh faces, hit a double off the right-field wall against Francisco Rodriguez in the seventh and scored on Fielder's sacrifice fly. And Brian Dozier, the last player added to the game as an injury replacement, hit a solo home run off Mark Melancon in the eighth.
NL runs came home on Jhonny Peralta's RBI single in the second, Andrew McCutchen's homer off Chris Archer in the sixth and Brandon Crawford's sacrifice fly in the ninth.
NL manager Bruce Bochy thought ahead to some future ceremony involving Trout, perhaps at an All-Star Game or World Series, perhaps at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
"He's going to be standing there, I think, with the guys we saw tonight," Bochy said.
THE OLD RIVALRY
The AL is 21-6-1 in the last 28 games, losing three straight from 1994-96 and 2010-12. The NL leads the matchup 43-41-2.
SPEEDING
Jacob deGrom of the Mets, the NL Rookie of the Year, struck out Stephen Vogt, Jason Kipnis and Jose Iglesias on 10 pitches in the sixth, reaching 98 mph. ... Reds closer Aroldis Chapman threw 14 of 15 pitches at 100 mph or more in the ninth, reaching 103 mph and striking out the side.



Final

American League 6

National League 3


8:15PM,EDT,July 14,2015
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio 

123456789 R H E
American 100020210 6 7 2
National 010001001 3 6 0
 
 
 
 
View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-PitchInning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
American - Top of 1stSCORE
Zack Greinke pitching for NationalALSNLS
Trout homered to right (352 feet).10
Donaldson walked.10
Pujols struck out looking.10
Cruz struck out swinging.10
Cain popped out to second.10
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
National - Bottom of 1stSCORE
Dallas Keuchel pitching for AmericanALSNLS
McCutchen fouled out to first.10
Frazier grounded out to third.10
Harper grounded out to third.10
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
American - Top of 2ndSCORE
Zack Greinke pitching for NationalALSNLS
Jones struck out swinging.10
Pérez struck out swinging.10
Altuve grounded out to second.10
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
National - Bottom of 2ndSCORE
Dallas Keuchel pitching for AmericanALSNLS
Goldschmidt reached on infield single to third, Goldschmidt to second on throwing error by third baseman Donaldson.10
Posey grounded out to shortstop, Goldschmidt to third.10
Rizzo grounded out to first.10
Peralta singled to right, Goldschmidt scored.11
Peralta to second on wild pitch by Keuchel.11
Pederson struck out swinging.11
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors
American - Top of 3rdSCORE
Gerrit Cole pitching for NationalALSNLS
Cole relieved Greinke.11
Escobar flied out to center.11
Trout struck out swinging.11
Donaldson walked.11
Pujols lined out to center.11
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
National - Bottom of 3rdSCORE
Felix Hernandez pitching for AmericanALSNLS
Hernández relieved Keuchel.11
LeMahieu lined out to center.11
McCutchen struck out swinging.11
Frazier grounded out to shortstop.11
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
American - Top of 4thSCORE
Madison Bumgarner pitching for NationalALSNLS
Bumgarner relieved Cole.11
Cruz flied out to right.11
Cain singled to center.11
Jones flied out to right.11
Pérez struck out swinging, Pérez safe at first on wild pitch by Bumgarner, Cain to third.11
Altuve grounded into fielder's choice to second, Pérez out at second.11
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
National - Bottom of 4thSCORE
David Price pitching for AmericanALSNLS
Price relieved Hernández.11
Harper struck out swinging.11
Goldschmidt struck out swinging.11
Posey lined out to right.11
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
American - Top of 5thSCORE
Clayton Kershaw pitching for NationalALSNLS
Kershaw relieved Bumgarner.11
Escobar singled to left.11
Trout grounded into fielder's choice to second, Escobar out at second.11
Machado hit for Donaldson.11
Machado flied out to left.11
Pujols walked, Trout to second.11
Fielder hit for Cruz.11
Fielder singled to left, Trout scored, Pujols to second.21
Cain doubled to left, Pujols scored, Fielder to third.31
Gardner hit for Jones.31
Gardner struck out looking.31
2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors
National - Bottom of 5thSCORE
Chris Archer pitching for AmericanALSNLS
Machado at third base.31
Gardner in left field.31
Vogt catching.31
Kipnis at second base.31
Archer relieved Price.31
Rizzo flied out to center.31
Peralta walked.31
Crawford ran for Peralta.31
Pederson struck out swinging.31
LeMahieu lined out to right.31
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
American - Top of 6thSCORE
Jacob deGrom pitching for NationalALSNLS
Molina catching.31
Crawford at shortstop.31
Bryant in left field.31
Panik at second base.31
deGrom relieved Kershaw.31
Vogt struck out swinging.31
Kipnis struck out swinging.31
Iglesias hit for Escobar.31
Iglesias struck out swinging.31
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
National - Bottom of 6thSCORE
Chris Archer pitching for AmericanALSNLS
Teixeira at first base.31
J.D. Martinez in right field.31
Iglesias at shortstop.31
McCutchen homered to left (407 feet).32
Frazier grounded out to third.32
Britton relieved Archer.32
Harper struck out swinging.32
Goldschmidt safe at first on throwing error by pitcher Britton.32
Molina singled to center, Goldschmidt to second.32
Tulowitzki hit for Rizzo.32
Tulowitzki grounded into fielder's choice to second, Molina out at second.32
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors
American - Top of 7thSCORE
Francisco Rodriguez pitching for NationalALSNLS
Pollock in center field.32
Arenado at third base.32
J. Upton in right field.32
Gonzalez at first base.32
Rodríguez relieved deGrom.32
Trout walked.32
Holt ran for Trout.32
Holt stole second.32
Machado doubled to deep right center, Holt scored.42
Teixeira grounded out to second, Machado to third.42
Fielder hit sacrifice fly to center, Machado scored.52
J.D. Martinez grounded out to shortstop.52
2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
National - Bottom of 7thSCORE
Dellin Betances pitching for AmericanALSNLS
Holt in left field.52
Gardner in center field.52
Betances relieved Britton.52
Crawford grounded out to second.52
Bryant walked.52
Panik struck out swinging.52
Pollock grounded out to third.52
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
American - Top of 8thSCORE
Mark Melancon pitching for NationalALSNLS
Melancon relieved Rodríguez.52
Gardner struck out looking.52
Martin hit for Vogt.52
Martin struck out looking.52
Dozier hit for Kipnis.52
Dozier homered to center (406 feet).62
Iglesias grounded out to third.62
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
National - Bottom of 8thSCORE
Wade Davis pitching for AmericanALSNLS
Martin catching.62
Dozier at second base.62
Davis relieved Betances.62
Arenado struck out swinging.62
J. Upton singled to center.62
J. Upton stole second.62
Gonzalez struck out swinging.62
Grandal hit for Molina.62
Grandal grounded out to shortstop.62
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
American - Top of 9thSCORE
Aroldis Chapman pitching for NationalALSNLS
Grandal catching.62
Chapman relieved Melancon.62
Holt struck out swinging.62
Moustakas hit for Machado.62
Moustakas struck out swinging.62
Teixeira struck out swinging.62
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
National - Bottom of 9thSCORE
Glen Perkins pitching for AmericanALSNLS
Moustakas at third base.62
Perkins relieved Davis.62
Braun hit for Tulowitzki.62
Braun tripled to right.62
Crawford hit sacrifice fly to left, Braun scored.63
Bryant flied out to right.63
Panik lined out to left.63
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors




American All-Stars
HittersABRHRBIBBSO#PAVGOBPSLG
Trout CF32111116.333.5001.333
Holt PR-LF
1100015.000.000.000
Donaldson 3B00002012.0001.000.000
a-Machado PH-3B
21110012.500.5001.000
g-Moustakas PH-3B
1000014.000.000.000
Pujols 1B21001114.000.333.000
2000019.000.000.000
Cruz DH2000015.000.000.000
b-Fielder PH-DH
10120041.000.5001.000
Cain RF3021005.667.6671.000
1000001.000.000.000
Jones LF2000019.000.000.000
c-Gardner PH-LF-CF
2000029.000.000.000
Pérez C20000218.000.000.000
Vogt C
1000013.000.000.000
e-Martin PH-C
1000013.000.000.000
Altuve 2B2000005.000.000.000
Kipnis 2B
1000014.000.000.000
f-Dozier PH-2B
11110041.0001.0004.000
Escobar SS2010008.500.500.500
d-Iglesias PH-SS
2000018.000.000.000
Totals34676415158   
a-flied out to left for J Donaldson in the 5th
b-singled to left for N Cruz in the 5th
c-struck out looking for A Jones in the 5th
d-struck out swinging for A Escobar in the 6th
e-struck out looking for S Vogt in the 8th
f-homered to center for J Kipnis in the 8th
g-struck out swinging for M Machado in the 9th
BATTING
2B: Cain (1, Kershaw); Machado (1, Rodríguez)
HR: Trout (1, 1st inning off Greinke 0 on, 0 Out); Dozier (1, 8th inning off Melancon 0 on, 2 Out)
RBI: Trout (1), Fielder 2 (2), Cain (1), Machado (1), Dozier (1)
SF: Fielder
2-out RBI: Fielder, Cain, Dozier
All-Stars RISP: 3-6 (Teixeira 0-1, Fielder 1-1, Machado 1-1, Altuve 0-1, Gardner 0-1, Cain 1-1)
Team LOB: 6
BASERUNNING
SB: Holt (1, 2nd base off Rodríguez/Molina)
FIELDING
E: Donaldson (1, throw); Britton (1, throw)

Game Information

StadiumGreat American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
Attendance43,656
Game Time3:02
Weather78 degrees, partly cloudy
Wind5 mph
UmpiresHome Plate - Tim Welke, First Base - Jerry Meals, Second Base - Paul Schrieber, Third Base - Ron Kulpa, Left Field - James Hoye, Right Field - Alan Porter