The National League got shut out in the All-Star Game, but it was a night to remember for the Phillies

The opening bars of Ray Charles’ rendition of “America the Beautiful” swept through the stadium as a group of nine children pedaled across the outfield grass.

They ditched their bikes on the edge of the infield and dashed off to stand next to an All-Star as fireworks crisscrossed the night sky. The 2026 All-Star Game was briefly paused ahead of the fifth inning, while Citizens Bank Park paid homage to the iconic Fourth of July scene in the 1993 film The Sandlot.

Bryce Harper, a reserve who had not entered the game yet, emerged from the dugout to watch the night sky with a young girl by first base. Nearby, Freddie Freeman and a child started a game of catch. In the outfield, Brandon Marsh filmed a video for a little boy’s grandmother after he learned he was her favorite Phillie.

“That’s my favorite baseball movie growing up,” Marsh said. “When I hear that song, it almost just brings tears to my eyes. It just takes me back to being 5 years old watching that movie. It was special. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

» READ MORE: A ‘super impressive’ first Philly All-Star Game in 30 years was a hit with fans

For the six Phillies selected to participate in the game, the past two days had been filled with experiences like that. Moments that reminded them why they love the game of baseball and always had.

Not everything on the field went according to plan. In fact, many things didn’t. In the National League’s 4-0 loss, starter Cristopher Sánchez gave up three runs and needed 34 pitches to finish the first inning. None of Kyle Schwarber, Harper, nor Marsh recorded a hit. And as Jhoan Duran jogged to the mound with one out in the ninth, his entrance music was noticeably delayed. (He didn’t mind. “They may be nervous, too, like me. So it’s OK,” Duran said.)

Jesús Luzardo had the best performance out of the six Phillies, with a six-pitch 1-2-3 fourth inning. But the results were secondary to sharing their All-Star experience with their families and their home fans.

“Doing it at home is what makes it so special,” Luzardo said. “My first one, doing it in front of a crowd that is obviously very passionate. When you’re on their side, they have your back no matter what. So I couldn’t be happier to do it here at home, and in front of a lot of family, as well.”

Atlanta starter Chris Sale joked with Marsh during the game that he would never be able to top having his first All-Star experience at his home ballpark.

“It only goes downhill from here,” Sale told him.

» READ MORE: ‘My favorite place to play’: Philly and Citizens Bank Park were All-Stars on a magical night. Just ask the actual All-Stars.

Getting to meet and share a clubhouse with players on other teams also was a main highlight of the experience for all six Phillies. Although Sale — along with anyone else with the Atlanta Braves on their chest — was resoundingly booed by the Citizens Bank Park crowd, he was popular inside the NL clubhouse. Luzardo, Duran, and Sánchez mentioned having conversations with him.

Sánchez also spoke with Pittsburgh star Paul Skenes and picked the brains of two Cy Young winners.

“Incredible experience,” he said through team interpreter Diego D’Aniello. “Just an amazing experience overall, sharing the love with the fans and how joyful they are with us. And sharing the clubhouse with superstars, it’s just an amazing thing to do, learning from each one of them.”

Sánchez had dedicated his night to his father, who was unable to make the trip to Philadelphia from the Dominican Republic. After he was introduced in the bullpen to thunderous applause, the lefty put his hand over his heart and then saluted. He struck out Millville’s own Mike Trout to start the game, but then gave up three singles and two walks that led to three runs.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved to lift Sánchez after the Yankees’ Ben Rice singled to drive in the third run. But even in an exhibition, Sánchez is loath to leave runners on base. He signaled that he wanted to stay and struck out Riley Greene to end things on a higher note.

Regardless of the score, this night, being here at all, meant everything to Sánchez.

» READ MORE: Kevin McGonigle relishes ‘unbelievable’ All-Star weekend, from sleeping in his childhood bed to meeting Chase Utley

“Myself, coming from La Romana, back home in the Dominican Republic, coming from basically nothing, it means a lot,” Sánchez said. “It means a lot to me, this experience. It’s just a sign that we’ve been doing things the right way. It’s a sign of all that hard work paying off.”

Before the game, Roberts asked Harper, Freeman, and Sale to stand up and address the NL team. Harper’s message to the clubhouse, which included 17 first-time All-Stars, was to soak in every moment because it all goes by fast.

He was speaking from experience. A month and change after Harper signed with the Phillies in 2019, Philadelphia was announced as the site of the 2026 All-Star Game for the United States’ 250th birthday. At the time, that felt like eons away. But it went by in a blink of an eye.

“It seems like it was forever ago, but it went so quick,” Harper said. “Cherish the moment. Take it all in, because things go quick. And remember the good times that you had.”