Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria hit a grand slam and New York Yankees left-hander Chris Capuano threw four shutout innings as the Major League Baseball All-Stars edged a mixed team from the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers 8-7 in an exhibition Tuesday night.
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez and Houston Astros center fielder Dexter Fowler both hit solo homers and Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano went 2-for-3 with one run scored as the MLB team banged out 14 hits in front of a crowd of 26,946 at Koshien Stadium.
Wearing the same white retro uniforms of the Japanese team that faced American baseball stars — led by Babe Ruth — in 1934, the game celebrating the 80th year of Japanese baseball got under way on a fast pace. The 80s rock band Mr. Big, who are touring Japan, sang the U.S. national anthem.