American League's Giancarlo Stanton, of the New York Yankees, swings at a pitch while hitting a two-run home run off National League pitcher Tony Gonsolin of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning of the MLB All-Star game Tuesday in Los Angeles. Stanton was chosen the game's MVP as the American League won 3-2. (AP photo)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The All-Star Game showcased what baseball has become — home runs, strikeouts and offense-killing shifts.

The National League didn’t have a hit between the first and eighth innings of Tuesday night’s 3-2 loss, its ninth in a row.

Four of the five runs scored on long balls. There were 22 strikeouts, including the final three batters on 10 pitches by the American League’s Emmanuel Clase in a game that lasted 3 hours, 11 minutes despite just 13 hits, five walks, two hit batters and one runner reaching on a error.

Juan Soto, Kyle Schwarber and Jake Cronenworth all hit groundouts that might have been hits before the rise of computer programs that tell teams to place three and sometimes four players on the same side of second base.

The batter’s eye in center field offered a vivid display of what has overtaken baseball — an array of high-speed cameras and radar equipment that track every ball’s spin, every player’s sprint and stumble.

The NL did all its scoring during Shane McClanahan’s first 13 pitches of the first inning, getting Ronald Acuna Jr’s leadoff double, Mookie Betts’ RBI single and Paul Goldschmidt’s homer.

AL offense was even more condensed. Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer in the fourth off Tony Gonsolin, and Byron Buxton went deep four pitches later.

Not a surprise in a season that has been the big league batting average dip to .242, its lowest since 1967.

Baseball’s competition committee is considering changes for next season that some purists consider revolutionary and some conclude necessary. A pitch clock is almost certain after testing throughout the minors this year.

Shift limits also have been proposed: Double-A and Class A teams were required this year to have four players on the infield, including two on each side of second base. The Florida State League adds an additional restriction starting July 22, drawing chalk lines in a pie shape from second base to the outfield grass, prohibiting infielders from the marked area pre-pitch.

MVP: Stanton’s homer ended a career 0 for 7 skid in the game and at 111.2 mph, it was the hardest-hit homer in an All-Star Game tracked by Statcast. Stanton was chosen the game’s MVP, receiving a glass bat engraved with his name from two-time MVP Steve Garvey and Billie Jean King, part of the Dodgers ownership.

WILLIAMS WORKS: Milwaukee Brewers reliever Devin Williams allowed a one-out single but handled the other three batters he faced in the seventh inning. Williams, who has not allowed a run since May 10, was a late addition to the roster. Teammates Josh Hader and Corbin Burnes were named to the roster but bowed out in advance, though Burnes still attended the game.

SOTO-SOTO: Detroit Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera grounded out to shortstop in the fifth inning in his only plate appearance. Tigers reliever Gregory Soto entered the game with two outs and the bases empty in the seventh inning. He issued a walk to Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs before retiring Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals on a force out. The Cubs’ Willson Contreras went 0-2 while reaching on an error.

UP NEXT: The regular season resumes with six games today, including Stanton, Aaron Judge and the Yankees playing a doubleheader at Houston. The Yankees own the best record in the majors at 64-28. Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Dusty Baker’s Astros have the second-best mark in the AL at 59-32. Detroit plays a doubleheader today at Oakland while Milwaukee returns to action Friday night, hosting Colorado.

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