​PHILADELPHIA — It was an MLB All-Star Game that will be remembered for the sheer pitching dominance, the offensive ineptitude, players holding sparklers in front of the dugout, fireworks shooting up in the air, kids riding bicycles on the field, a star player who nearly broke his hand, but missing that one magical moment.Instead, it was seemingly harmless two-run, first-inning single by a former MVP participating in his first All-Star Game in seven years whose hit proved to be worthy of the All-Star MVP award.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNew York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger, who stood in front of his locker before the game reminiscing when he was the National League’s MVP for the Los Angeles Dodgers at the age of 24, and six hours later Tuesday night was sitting behind a podium holding the MVP award after the American League’s 4-0 victory.Bellinger is the fourth Yankee to win the All-Star MVP award, joining Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Giancarlo Stanton, and also the first in MLB history to win Rookie of the Year, LCS MVP, All-Star MVP and a World Series title.“Pretty special,’’ Bellinger, 31, said. “My first few years in the big leagues, I was here two of my first three years. I was, like, ‘Oh, I’ll be here every year. It took a long time to get back.’“It’s hard to be an All-Star. You know, health, performance, it all has to come together. Honestly, this one I just really enjoyed it.’’1 / 8Fans look on before the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)Really, Bellinger was one of the few hitters in the 96th All-Star Game to actually have a satisfying evening. There were a record 27 strikeouts, the most in a nine-inning All-Star Game, including 15 by the American League pitchers. There was only one extra-base hit the entire game, an eighth-inning homer by Chicago White Sox infielder Miguel Vargas, one of 26 first-time All-Stars.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“It’s not really fair, I don’t know how those guys can even hit the way guys are throwing,’’ Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith said. “Everybody’s motion is completely unique. Then, there’s the different release points, arm angles. I wouldn’t say I feel sorry for them, but I don’t understand how they do what they do. It’s very impressive. It’s a hard line of work for sure.’’While the game was rather dull, it was the city of Philadelphia that stole the show. They broke out an old-fashioned piece of Americana after the fourth inning with kids coming from the center-field gate on bicycles, camping out by the All-Stars on the field, some trading baseball cards, and others playing catch, like 14-year-old Noah with Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman.“That was pretty cool, pretty fun,’’ said Freeman, who spoke to the team before the game along with Bryce Harper and Chris Sale, who had a combined 29 All-Star appearances. “I was telling them to appreciate the game, take a step back, and m