Detroit Tigers prospect Thayron Liranzo hit a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning to secure a 6-5 win for the American League All-Stars in the Arizona Fall League All-Star game. The 437-foot no-doubter made Liranzo the first ever Tiger and third ever Dominican player to earn AFL All-Star game MVP since the award was first handed out in 2010.
Though the AL had the last laugh, it was the National League who struck first against Houston Astros prospect Alex Santos II. The NL put their first three runners of the game on base before a sacrifice fly from Chicago Cubs first baseman Jonathan Long drove in New York Mets infielder Jett Williams with the game’s first run. Santos, however, limited the damage to one run, and the American League’s offense exploded in the second. Facing Colorado Rockies left-hander Evan Justice, New York Yankees third baseman Caleb Durbin doubled in a pair before Toronto Blue Jays infielder Adrian Pinto smashed a three-run homer to give the AL a 5-1 lead.
That's Pinto power!@BlueJays prospect Adrian Pinto smashes a 3-run HR to left-center: 414 feet, 107 mph 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ek6EdkPi6i
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 10, 2024
The AL put more pressure on in the top of the third, as Kansas City Royals top prospect Jac Caglianone smoked a double and stole third base. With two on and two out, Boston Red Sox shortstop Max Ferguson lined a pitch back up the middle that looked like a sure base hit, but Jett Williams leapt up to make an acrobatic catch and prevent two runs from scoring.
Jett Williams' Gold Glove potential is showing 😤
The @Mets' No. 2 prospect makes a leaping snag to end the inning for the National League in the AFL Fall Stars Game. pic.twitter.com/oEFdN0Qywa
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 10, 2024
The National League would keep that momentum into the bottom half of the inning against Royals pitcher Lunider Avila. San Diego Padres 18 year old catching phenom Ethan Salas led off the frame with a walk, stole both second and third base, and came into score when the throw to third from Blue Jays catcher Carter Jansen sailed into left field. Long would follow with an RBI groundout, and Washington Nationals outfielder Robert Hassell III would bring the National League within one with an RBI double to left.
Ethan Salas swipes a pair of bags, leading to a run for the NL squad during the Fall Stars Game!
See what the @Padres' No. 1 prospect has in store next LIVE: https://t.co/HtqRuB9hoE pic.twitter.com/dae0ZKDw21
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 10, 2024
The game would remain 5-4 into the bottom of the sixth, where a walk by Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Zyhir Hope and a single by Cincinnati Reds shortstop Edwin Arroyo put runners on the corners with one out. Cubs catcher Moises Ballesteros got the job done with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Hope and tying the game at 5.
Despite multiple rallies by each team, the score remained knotted at five into the top of the ninth. Facing Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Griff McGarry, Thayron Liranzo showed why he was the centerpiece of the Jack Flaherty trade with a no-doubter blast that put the American League ahead.
Come for the massive power. Stay for the bat flip. 😤@tigers No. 6 prospect Thayron Liranzo CRUSHES a go-ahead homer 437 ft, 112 mph in the 9th inning of the Fall Stars Game: pic.twitter.com/ZRccSnOYaZ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 10, 2024
The National League would mount one last rally in the bottom of the ninth, registering a pair of hits against Texas Rangers right-hander Marc Church. With the tying run on base, Church would strike out Padres infielder Leodalis De Vries to seal the 6-5 victory for the American League in what was an entertaining Arizona Fall League All-Star game.
WBN Arizona Fall League: https://worldbaseball.com/league/arizona-fall-league/
Photo Credit: Henry Davis #34 of the National League Fall Stars signs items for fans before the game between the American League Fall Stars and the National League Fall Stars at Sloan Park on Sunday, November 6, 2022 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
