Cristopher Sanchez’s All-Star start unravels fast as AL jumps on Phillies ace early

The All-Star Game was supposed to be a coronation for Cristopher Sanchez. Instead, it turned into a three-run first inning that put the National League in a hole before the crowd in Philadelphia could even settle in.

Sanchez, the Phillies’ ace and a frontrunner for the NL Cy Young, got the nod to start on his home field. It made sense — he’s been electric all season, and Jacob Misiorowski, the other Cy Young contender, wasn’t eligible to pitch Tuesday night. So Sanchez got the ball, and for one batter, everything looked fine. He blew a fastball past Mike Trout for strike three.

Then it all went sideways.

Yordan Alvarez singled. Shea Langeliers walked. Bobby Witt Jr. walked. Suddenly the bases were loaded with two outs, and the American League had a chance to break it open. Cody Bellinger came up with the count against him, fought off some tough pitches, and ripped a single up the middle that cleared the bases. Two runs scored. Then Ben Rice poked a hit through the same hole and brought Witt home. Just like that, it was 3-0.

Sanchez struck out Riley Greene to end the inning, but the damage was done. The AL had its lead, and the NL spent the rest of the night trying to climb back.

The moment wasn’t lost on Bellinger, who’s been carrying the Yankees’ offense with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton sidelined. He and Rice — both first-time All-Stars — showed exactly why they belong in the conversation. Bellinger was down to his last strike before that single, and he didn’t miss.

Sanchez has been trading Cy Young leads with Misiorowski all season, and the gap between them is razor-thin. The Phillies got the hometown bump for the All-Star nod, which is standard for the host team’s best pitcher. But after one inning, the narrative shifted from celebration to damage control. It’s one outing. It doesn’t change his season. But in a game that’s supposed to be a showcase, it wasn’t the debut he wanted.

The National League bullpen kept things close the rest of the way, but the early hole was too deep. The AL took the win, and Sanchez was left to answer questions about what went wrong.

The All-Star Game is a weird measuring stick — one inning, no real stakes, a gimmick lineup. But for a pitcher chasing a Cy Young, it’s a moment that sticks. Sanchez will be fine. He’s too good not to be. But for one night in July, in front of his own fans, the script flipped.