Shohei Ohtani's quest for his first home run in MLB's All-Star game will continue after he struck out and walked Tuesday as the American League's starting designated hitter in a 3-2 loss to the National League.
The NL came from behind on a two-run eighth-inning home run by the Rockies' Elias Diaz, the game's MVP, at Seattle's T-Mobile Park.
The AL got off to a rousing defensive start with the Rangers' Adolis Garcia in right and the Rays' Randy Arozarena in left making tremendous back-to-back leaping catches on the first two balls in play.
Ohtani, representing the Los Angeles Angels in his third straight All-Star Game, took a couple of mighty cuts in his first-inning at-bat, but went down swinging on a 3-2 pitch out of the zone from Diamondbacks' right-hander Zac Gallen.
"I certainly was trying for a home run in the first at-bat," said Ohtani, who opted out of pitching in this year's classic after developing a blister on his pitching hand before the All-Star break.
"No matter how many times I come, it's always fresh. I looked at it as a good experience and enjoyed it."
Giants right-hander Camilo Doval, the NL's seventh pitcher, earned the win, while Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel got the save.
First-year New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga, who was added to the NL team as a late replacement, did not get into the game.
