2025 MLB All-Star Game: National League edges American League in dramatic Home Run Derby-style swing-off tiebreaker

The National League prevailed over the American League in the 2025 All-Star Game on Tuesday night, and for the first time ever the game -- tied after nine innings -- was decided by a Home Run Derby-style swing-off. Such an ending was the result of the AL's furious comeback from a 6-0 deficit going into the seventh inning. 

With the score 6-6, three hitters from each side took three swings each. American League sluggers Brent Rooker, Randy Arozarena, and Jonathan Aranda combined for three home runs, but Kyle Stowers and Kyle Schwaber on the NL side outdid them with four homers. Schwarber's three home runs on three swings gave the NL the lead for good and the win. Pete Alonso would have been the third hitter for the NL to take swings, but when Aranda failed to tie it up on his turn, the swing-off ended. The Rays All-Star, though, came mere feet from sending it to Alonso: 

And the clincher: 

Schwarber was named Most Valuable Player of the game despite going 0 for 2 with a walk during the game itself. His swing-off heroics, however, made him the first Phillies player to win All-Star Game MVP since Johnny Callison in 1964 and the first non-pitcher to ever win the award while going hitless.

As for the meandering journey that took the two teams to the undiscovered territory of the swing-off, it started early. After NL starter Paul Skenes worked a perfect top of the first with a pair of strikeouts, leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani dumped a softly hit single into center, and then Ronald Acuña Jr. notched an even more softly hit infield hit to put two runners on for No. 3 hitter Ketel Marte. Marte came through with a well-struck double down the line to give the senior circuit that early 2-0 lead. In that one inning and with that one hit, Skenes received more run support in the All-Star Game than he did in his last three starts for the Pirates combined. 

In the sixth, Pete Alonso of the Mets gave the NL and manager Dave Roberts some breathing room with this three-run, opposite-field homer off Royals lefty Kris Bubic: 

Later that same frame, the Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll added a solo home run off Casey Mize of the Tigers to push it to 6-0. 

NL pitchers suffocated the AL lineup until the seventh, when Brent Rooker of the A's halved the lead with a three-run home run of his own. That meant All-Star Game history was made: 

By the end of the frame, the NL's advantage was down to 6-4. NL relievers stanched any further damage until the ninth. That's when Padres closer and current MLB saves leader Robert Suarez allowed back-to-back one-out doubles to Byron Buxton and Bobby Witt Jr., which cut the lead to 6-5. Roberts then called upon Mets closer Edwin Díaz, who recorded the second out thanks to a sparkling play at first base by Matt Olson of the host Braves. Then, however, Steven Kwan notched an infield single that brought Witt Jr. home from third with the tying run. Aroldis Chapman of the Red Sox worked a perfect bottom of the ninth to send the game to the Home Run Derby-style tiebreaker.