Schwarber's triple blast lifts NL to seal All-Star thriller

Kyle Schwarber smashed three home runs on three swings in a tiebreaker swing-off to lift the National League over the American League 4-3 in Monday’s 95th Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

- 

The first such decider used at the All-Star Game was baseball’s version of a football penalty shootout, coming after the teams were deadlocked 6-6 through nine innings in Atlanta.

Three alternating batters for each team would take three swings each with the most homers deciding a winner.

Brent Rooker blasted two homers in three swings to give the AL the lead while Kyle Stowers hit one in response to open for the NL.

In round two, outfielder Randy Arozarena added a homer for a 3-1 AL edge.

NL designated hitter Schwarber, a 32-year-old American who plays for Philadelphia, then responded by going three-for-three in blasting homers to give the NL the lead.

When Jonathan Aranda of the AL couldn't manage an equaliser homer on his three swings, the NL finally had a victory after having seized a 6-0 lead in the game.

Schwarber joked that if he had been trying to smash homers, he likely would have hit the ball into his teammates in the dugout.