By Morris Phillips

DENVER–Vladimir Guerrero didn’t get the start in his first All-Star Game at Fenway Park in 1999. And he didn’t do much: Guerrero–facing Texas’ Jeff Zimmerman–saw three pitches and grounded out to end the seventh inning. The Hall of Famer was 24 years old in 1999, and he would make eight more All-Star appearances, turning the game into his own personal showcase on more than one occasion.

Guerrero’s son, Vladimir Jr. might not be that impressed.

The 22-year old Vlad Jr. shocked the sold out Coors Field crowd on Tuesday by hitting the third All-Star pitch he saw 468 feet to get the American League headed in the right direction in their 5-2 win. Guerrero Jr. was named the starter at first base, and in the fifth inning struck again, driving in a run on a ground out to put the AL up 3-0.

Oh, and did we mention the reaction of Fernando Tatis Jr. to Guerrero’s blast, his jaw dropped and unable to turn and look as the blast headed into the left field bleachers. These days, television replays tell the whole story: Guerrero’s homer was the 200th of All-Star Game history and it left the diamond traveling well over 100 mph. Thus Tatis’ reaction.

The victory was the American League’s eighth consecutive in the series, and 15th of the last 18 meetings. How is that dominance demonstrated? Future NL rosters with the numbers expanded for the All-Star occasion will have no players that have beaten the AL on the All-Star stage. Quite staggering.

Xander Bogaerts of the Red Sox added an RBI single in the fifth, and Tampa Bay catcher Mike Zunino homered in the sixth to cap the American League scoring. The National League got a home run from J.T. Realmuto in the fifth, and Manny Machado scored on a past ball in the sixth.

Shohei Ohtani was the AL starting pitcher in an unmatched feat of pitching and batting leadoff at the All-Star level. He pitched just one inning, not allowing a hit, and eight AL relievers each handled an inning of work after Ohtani’s exit.

Bogaerts was the only batter to get a pair of hits, and Corbin Burnes of the Brewers was the only pitcher to throw two innings. Burnes allowed the home run to Guererro.

Locally, Brandon Crawford and Matt Olson saw action, but didn’t factor in the game’s outcome. Crawford had one at-bat, and Olson two, but neither slugger got a hit.