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July 20 (UPI) -- Giancarlo Stanton and Byron Buxton hit back-to-back homers in the fourth inning and the American League bullpen held the National League scoreless after the first to seal a victory in the 2022 MLB All-Star Game. Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez was the only player to record multiple hits in the 3-2 triumph Tuesday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
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"It's hard to put into words that this is reality right now," Stanton, who was named MVP, told reporters. "It's really cool. I'm soaking it all in. ... This is very special to me. It's right up there with anything, personally.
"For the road I've gone, to get to where I am now is very special."
The American League extended its streak to nine-consecutive wins in the Midsummer Classic.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw held the American League scoreless in the top of the first. Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts then plated Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. with an RBI single to push the National League ahead.
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo homer in the same inning for a 2-0 advantage.
The American League bullpen would allow just one hit over the next eight shutout innings. Neither team scored in the second or third inning. Ramirez led off the fourth with a single to center.
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. flew out in the next at-bat. National League pitcher Tony Gonsolin then settled in against Stanton.
The Yankees slugger fell down 0-2 in the count. Gonsolin then tossed in an 83.4-mph slider. Stanton turned on the offering, which was just off the center of the strike zone.
He sent the pitch deep to left center for a 457-foot, two-run homer, which tied the score.
Gonsolin fell behind 2-1 in the count against Buxton in the next exchange. The Minnesota Twins outfielder sent the Dodgers pitcher's next offering to left field for a 425-foot, go-ahead solo shot.
Texas Rangers pitcher Martin Perez replaced Paul Blackburn of the Oakland Athletics on the mound for the American League in the bottom of the fifth.
Pitchers Neston Cortes and Clay Holmes of the Yankees, Jorge Lopez of the Baltimore Orioles, Gregory Soto of the Detroit Tigers, Liam Hendriks of the Chicago White Sox and Emmanuel Clase of the Guardians then combined with Perez for the strong American League bullpen effort down the stretch.
The National League bullpen also allowed just three hits and no runs over the final five innings, but couldn't get an offensive assist from the dugout.
Ramirez went 2 for 2 for the American League. Los Angeles Angels designated hitter/pitcher Shohei Ohtani was the only other player to reach base twice in the game. He went 1 for 1 with a walk.
Just five of the National League's 21 batters recorded a hit in the loss.
The MLB regular season will resume Thursday, with six games scheduled. The Miami Marlins will host the Rangers and the Houston Astros will host the Yankees at 1:10 p.m. EDT in Miami and Houston, respectively, to launch the slate.
