Hendriks Collects Save in 91st MLB All-Star Game

West Australian Liam Hendriks converted the save as the American League topped the National League in the 91st Major League Baseball All-Star Game on Wednesday.

Hendriks gave up a pair of hits but got out of trouble to close out a 5-2 win for the AL at Colorado’s Coors Field.

Omar Narvaez singled off the 32-year-old Chicago White Sox closer to start the bottom of the ninth ahead of Hendriks benefitting from a bit of luck.

A lucky bounce off the backstop turned what would have been a wild pitch into an out at second.

Hendriks punched out Chris Taylor for the second out before a double from Ozzie Albies kept the National League alive.

Those hopes were snuffed out a pitch later when Hendriks got Trea Turner to ground out.

It completed an eighth-straight All-Star Game win for the AL and 15th in the last 18 matchups.

Hendriks has featured in the past two. He made history with his selection for the 2021 exhibition, becoming the first Australian to be a two-time All-Star.

Japan’s Shohei Ohtani provided the AL with a scoreless first inning and made All-Star Game history by pulling double duty as a pitcher and hitter.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Mike Zunino homered to power the AL’s offence.
Hendriks finished what Ohtani started.

“It’s a world game now,” Hendriks told baseball.com.au. “There’s a lot of us us over here and hopefully there’s more to come with the exposure that Shohei and guys from the DR and Venezuela can bring to this game.”

Hendriks’ White Sox will return to action on Saturday morning against Houston.

First pitch at Guaranteed Rate Field is set for 9.40am AEST.

The White Sox sit atop the AL Central with a 54-35 record.

Hendriks is second in all of MLB with 23 saves this season, a 4-2 record, and a 2.75 ERA.