Jewish slugger wins All-Star game MVP with tie-breaking home run

Houston Astros Alex Bregman snaps a 10th-inning tie, propelling the American League to an 8-6 victory over the National League

By JTA 18 July 2018, 7:38 pm

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Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros and the American League poses with the MVP trophy after defeating the National League during the 89th MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Nationals Park on July 17, 2018, in Washington, DC. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images via JTA)

In a baseball All-Star game that set a record for home runs, Alex Bregman had the most important one.

Bregman, the Jewish third baseman for the Houston Astros, snapped a 10th-inning tie with his two-run shot to power the American League to an 8-6 victory over the National League on Tuesday night in Washington, DC.

Playing in his first All-Star game, the third-year major leaguer was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Bregman’s home run off Ross Stripling of the Los Angeles Dodgers gave his team a 7-5 lead.

Bregman, 24, said he “was just trying to put a line drive in play and it left the yard.”

“It was crazy. A lot of fun,” he was quoted as saying by ESPN.

His Astros teammate George Springer followed with another homer off Stripling.

The game featured 10 home runs, easily surpassing the record of six set in 1951 and tied in 1954 and 1971. It was the sixth consecutive victory for the American League.

Bregman had appeared in Monday night’s Home Run Derby but was knocked out in the first round. He has 20 home runs this season after hitting 19 all of last year.

His Astros won the World Series last season over the Dodgers in seven games, and Bregman also was a member of the US team that took the World Baseball Classic title in 2017.