Corbin Burnes planned to leave his newborn twin daughters for a while and attend the All-Star Game, regardless of whether he started for the American League.
In a game full of replacements and first-time All-Stars, Burnes, the right-handed pitcher from Baltimore, was the last to arrive.
Burnes, an All-Star for the fourth year in a row, flew to Texas the morning of the game after spending about 36 hours at home in Arizona.
“I tried to spend as much time as possible at home with them,” Burnes said. “Be a dad for a bit. Change some diapers. Give the girls a bottle. These are things you realize you miss when you’re away.”
The journey was worthwhile, despite a tough situation with two outs that Burnes managed to escape by getting William Contreras to ground out with runners on second and third. Bryce Harper had doubled after a walk to Shohei Ohtani.
Burnes was the first All-Star starter for the Orioles since Steve Stone in 1980 and the fifth overall. He faced off against Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, who also had a scoreless first inning.
Contreras hit a grounder to Burnes, who tossed it to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and embraced his former catcher from Milwaukee along the first-base line. The Brewers had traded their 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner to the Orioles just before spring training.
“I wish I hadn’t walked Shohei, but it was enjoyable,” Burnes said. “There really are no words to describe the atmosphere, playing alongside the best players in the game.
“I told them, ‘Be prepared. I’m going to let them hit the ball.’ They were ready out there, and luckily I finished the inning without allowing a run.”
Twins Charlotte and Harper were born in late June while Burnes was on paternity leave a day after pitching seven innings in an 11-2 victory over Texas.
The 29-year-old Burnes made two more starts before the All-Star break, flying home from Baltimore on Sunday night after a series against the New York Yankees.
