The Central League wins 2016 NPB All-Star Game 1, 5-4, thanks to homers from Yoshitomo Tsutsugo (game MVP), Wladimir Balentien and Hayato Sakamoto. Shintaro Fujinami gets the win and Shota Nakazaki the save. Two CL rookies get hits, the first time two rookies had hits in the same NPB All-Star Game; Shun Takayama and Yasutaka Tobashira were the impressing freshmen.

The International League wins the AAA All-Star Game, 4 – 3, over the Pacific Coast League. Peter O’Brien hits a two-run homer to put the PCL ahead, 3 – 1, in the bottom of the 8th, but in the 9th PCL pitcher Jon Edwards loads the bases with none out. Kyle Roller hits a two-run single and Tyler Henson singles in the winning run. O’Brien and Roller are named their respective league’s player of the game.

Mike Trout leads the American League to a 6 – 3 win in the 2015 All-Star Game by starting off the game with a homer against Zack Greinke, then scores the go-ahead run in the 5th to earn MVP honors for the second straight year. David Price is the winner over Clayton Kershaw, and Andrew McCutchen and Brian Dozier also homer.

Todd Frazier wins the annual Home Run Derby in front of a home crowd at Great American Ball Park, edging out rookie Joc Pederson, 15-14, in the final round. For the first time, the competition is staged with a time limit for batters, and Frazier hits the homer that ties him with Pederson with seconds to go before launching the clincher.

The Angels enter the All-Star break with a half-game lead over the Astros on top of the AL West standings after a 10 – 3 win over the Mariners behind rookie Andrew Heaney, who pitches 7 scoreless innings. The Angels score 6 runs in the 6th, and also take advantage of three Seattle errors. They have won 11 of 14 while Houston has lost 6 straight.

The United States team wins the 2015 Futures Game, 10 – 1, over the World team. C Kyle Schwarber is named the winner of the Larry Doby Award as the game’s MVP after hitting a two-run triple in the 3rd. Josh Bell adds a two-run homer in the 4th and the U.S. puts the game completely away with a five-run 6th. The game is played at Great American Ball Park as part of the All-Star Game festivities.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis hits three home runs to lead the Mets to a 5 – 3 win over the Diamondbacks; Nieuwenhuis is the 10th player to have a three-homer game for the Mets, but the first ever to do so at home.

The Marlins set a team record with 9 consecutive hits in the 7th inning of a 14 – 3 win over the Reds. One of the hits is costly, as 2B Dee Gordon dislocates his left thumb in reaching on an infield single, putting him out of the All-Star Game. Reliever Mike Dunn has his first career hit during the string as Miami scores 8 runs. J.T. Realmuto hits a three-run homer as rookie Adam Conley records his first victory in a spot start. For Cincinnati, Manny Parra gives up 5 runs without retiring a batter.

2015 – Brian Dozier hits a three-run homer to cap a seven-run 9th inning and lead the Twins to an 8 – 6 win over the Tigers. The Twins are held to one run over the first 8 innings by Justin Verlander, who is still winless on the year, but explode against relievers Joakim Soria and Bruce Rondon.

Zack Greinke makes a case to be named the National League’s starting pitcher of the All-Star Game. In his last start before the break, he holds the Phillies to one hit over 8 innings, extending his scoreless streak to 35 2/3 innings while lowering his major league-leading ERA to 1.39. The Dodgers win, 6-0, as Greinke improves to 8-2.