Mitch Keller Gives Up Home Run in All-Star Game Debut

Mitch Keller allowed a home run in his first career All-Star Game.

The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander served up a solo shot to the Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Diaz with one out in the second inning Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

Otherwise, Keller was perfect for the National League in its 3-2 victory over the American League.

Keller got the Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager to line out to begin the inning then, following Diaz’s homer, the Rangers’ Adolis Garcia struck out and the Baltimore Orioles’ Austin Hays grounded out.

Keller has a 9-4 record and 3.31 ERA in 19 starts this season along with a 1.12 WHIP and 129 strikeouts in 117 innings.

Closer David Bednar, the Pirates’ other representative, did not appear in the game.

Bednar has converted 17 of 18 save opportunities and has a 1.27 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 34 games. He has 42 strikeouts in 35.1 innings.

Former Pirates catcher Elias Diaz, now with the Colorado Rockies, was named the winner of the game’s Ted Williams MVP award. His two-run home run in the eighth inning put the NL ahead 3-2 as it broke a nine-game losing streak.

The Pirates return to action Friday night when they host the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game series.