Trout is MVP again as AL dominates All-Star tilt

CINCINNATI - Mike Trout led off the All-Star game with a homer, and became the first player to win the MVP award two years running, as the American League beat the National League 6-3 on Tuesday.

Trout was one of the several young stars which had this game labeled as an All-Star game for a new generation, but the result was familiar, as the AL continued its recent dominance.

The game decides which club team gets home advantage in the World Series, so Tuesday’s result means the AL representative will open the season-deciding series at home.

In an age of dominant pitching, Felix Hernandez, David Price, Zach Britton, Dellin Betances and Wade Davis took scoreless turns in the AL’s third win a row.

A season after the retirement of Derek Jeter dropped the curtain on the turn-of-the-century greats, the 23-year-old Trout was among six starting position players under 25, the most youthful squad since 1965.

The Los Angeles Angels slugger sent Zack Greinke’s fourth pitch over the wall in right field for a homer.

Prince Fielder and Lorenzo Cain had run-scoring hits in the fifth against reigning NL MVP Clayton Kershaw that put the AL up 3-1.

Manny Machado hit a double off the right-field wall against Francisco Rodriguez in the seventh and scored on Fielder’s sacrifice fly. Brian Dozier hit a solo home run off Mark Melancon in the eighth.

Pete Rose, Cincinnati’s hometown hero and baseball’s 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.

AP