Kyle Schwarber delivers National League All-Star Game win in epic home run swing-off

ATLANTA — An exhausting exhibition ended unlike any other.

When a hard-luck Edwin Díaz could not close out the game, the National League instead anticipated asking Pete Alonso to swing the door shut — but before he even stepped to the plate, an NL East rival in Kyle Schwarber essentially notched the save.

What turned out to be a wild All-Star Game was not settled in nine innings and instead was determined by a swing-off that most fans — and players, for that matter — did not know was even a possibility.

When the drama — and there was drama for a game that meant nothing — was over, the Phillies’ Schwarber was the hero, Alonso was drained but happy and the National League was the victor of what will be scored as a 7-6 win at Truist Park that probably requires an asterisk.

“That,” Díaz would say later, “was really fun.”

A truly unique All-Star Game saw the National League blow a 6-0 lead — an edge forged with the help of a three-run homer by Alonso — with the tying run scored in the top of the ninth against Díaz.

The Mets closer entered with one out and the tying runner on second and got a hot-shot groundout from Jazz Chisholm Jr. with the help of a sliding Matt Olson.

But one out from victory, Díaz could not put away contact-savant Steven Kwan, who hit a slow roller to the left side for an infield single that tied the game.

The NL could not touch Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the ninth, which sent fans scrambling for an elusive All-Star Game rulebook.

Earlier in the day, the what-if scenario had been explained to Alonso, who agreed that if the game were tied after nine innings, he would participate in the brief home run derby.

Alonso — who had taken a break from the actual event this year a day earlier, more valuing preparing his body for the second half than straining for home run after home run to put on a show — could decline one derby but would not decline two.

So when Kwan beat out the single, Alonso left the dugout and began swinging in the indoor cage.

Díaz, who recorded the final out of the top of the ninth with the assistance of the experimental automated ball-strike system, walked off the mound, out of the dugout and saw Alonso taking his hacks.

Briefed upon the rules, Díaz looked at his teammate.

“Pete, we need you,” Díaz told him.

While heartwarming, that would not prove correct. After a scoreless bottom of the ninth, both managers sent three sluggers to the plate — Brent Rooker, Randy Arozarena and Jonathan Aranda for the AL, who were set to be matched by Kyle Stowers, Schwarber and Alonso. Each player could swing three times, with the most homers winning.

Batting second for the NL, Schwarber stepped up facing a one-homer deficit and swung three times, launching three home runs. After Aranda’s homer-less round, the NL was the champion without requiring Alonso to take part in yet another derby.

“He put on a hell of a show,” Alonso said of Schwarber, an enemy turned teammate who was named the game’s MVP.

The entertaining end from Schwarber overshadowed what had been an entertaining middle inning from Alonso.

Against Royals lefty Kris Bubic in the sixth inning, Alonso smacked a second-pitch, middle-of-the-plate fastball 367 feet into the right field seats. He skipped the derby, but not the home runs.

“He saved it for the game,” Francisco Lindor said with a laugh. “I’m happy for him. He’s fun to watch. He’s one of the best power hitters in the game.

“He mishit that ball out of here.”

The Mets slugger gave his side what was then a 5-0 lead and became the first Met to homer in an All-Star Game since David Wright in 2006.

“That was awesome to see,” said David Peterson, who himself induced a groundout from Aaron Judge and pitched a scoreless inning. “Not surprising, but cool to see.”

More surprising was Alonso’s absence from the previous night’s festivities. A throwback, burly first baseman had won the derby twice, competed four times and always had accepted an invite from the league for an event that can be exhausting.

“That beats any derby win,” Alonso said after his one home run swing would be enough because of Schwarber. “That’s really special for me.”