LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton homered into an especially sweet spot in his Dodger Stadium homecoming at the All-Star Game, putting his name alongside some of the sluggers he loved watching from the left field seats as a kid.

Byron Buxton followed with another drive and the American League won its ninth straight Midsummer Classic, beating the National League 3-2 on Tuesday night.

AL manager Dusty Baker reminded his team of the winning streak before the game.

“We had to hold it down for him and keep it going,” Stanton said.

Fans rooting for a tie score after nine innings so they could see a first-time home run derby decide the winner instead of extra innings didn’t get their wish.

Instead, the back-to-back homers in the fourth inning were the difference — as the AL boosted its overall edge to 47-43-2.

Facing 11-game winner Tony Gonsolin of the Dodgers, Stanton’s impressive 457-foot, two-run shot landed in the left-field pavilion.

“He smokes them,” NL manager Brian Snitker said. “Big, strong kid.”

Stanton and his father, Mike, would sit out there after buying tickets off scalpers for whatever price they could afford.

“My Pops took me to my first Dodger game, showed me how to have love for this game and now we’re here,” the New York Yankees slugger said. “Look at us, it’s just incredible.”

Despite his love for the home team, Stanton thrilled at seeing the visiting sluggers.

“It was really the big boppers when they came into town,” he said. “I wanted to see (Mark) McGwire, (Sammy) Sosa and (Barry) Bonds, even if it was two at-bats. All that wraps around full circle.”

Stanton was chosen the game’s MVP, receiving a glass bat engraved with his name from two-time MVP Steve Garvey and Billie Jean King, part of the Dodgers ownership.

“It hasn’t fully sank in,” he said. “It’s going to be an amazing memory for all of our lives.”

The homer ended Stanton’s career 0 for 7 skid in the game and at 111.2 mph, it was the hardest-hit homer in an All-Star Game tracked by Statcast.

Also scoring was José Ramírez, tying the game 2-all.

Four pitches later, Buxton went deep to give the AL a 3-2 lead against a clearly frustrated Gonsolin, who took the loss.

Nine-time All-Star Clayton Kershaw got the first start of his career for the NL in his home ballpark, with the Dodgers hosting for the first time since 1980.

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani got the game’s first hit on Kershaw’s first pitch.

Framber Valdez of Houston got the win, tossing a scoreless third inning.

AL starter Shane McClanahan of Tampa Bay gave up two runs and four hits.

The first-time All-Star, who owns an MLB-leading 1.71 ERA, had allowed four hits or fewer in his last seven starts.

McClanahan combined with 10 other pitchers on the five-hitter.

Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase put on quite a show, striking out the side in the ninth to earn the save.

Austin Riley’s single in the eighth was the NL’s only hit after the first inning.

Ohtani led off for the AL as the designated hitter.

Interviewed moments before the start, the Japanese superstar said, in English, he was going to swing.

He cracked a 91-mph fastball into center field on the first pitch.

“I was definitely swinging a hundred percent,” Ohtani later said through a translator. “Kershaw has really good command.”

His hit snapped an 0 for 8 streak as a hitter against Kershaw.

Last year, Ohtani was the starting pitcher and led off as the DH in the AL’s 5-2 win at Denver.

He didn’t pitch this year so he can start for Friday in the Angels’ first game after the break at Atlanta.

“I mean, you can’t throw the first pitch of an All-Star Game as a breaking ball,” Kershaw said. “You kind of had to give him a heater there, I think just for everything. Had to do it.”

But the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner had the last word.

Kershaw fired a pickoff throw to first that caught Ohtani off the bag.

“Honestly, I didn’t know quite know what to throw yet. Sometimes I throw over there for a second to be convicted with the pitch,” Kershaw said. “I wasn’t trying to pick him off. I was trying to delay the game for a bit, but it worked out.”

Then the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, who leads the majors in home runs, went down swinging.

After Rafael Devers walked, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Kershaw walked off to applause from the appreciative crowd.

“I tried to take a minute at the beginning to take it all in and look around, which I usually never do,” Kershaw said. “It kind of calmed everything down for me and then I had a lot of fun.”

The NL wasted no time in taking its first 2-0 lead in 10 years.

Styling in yellow spikes and alternate yellow and red sleeves, Ronald Acuña Jr. led off the bottom of the first with a ground-rule double to left and scored on Mookie Betts’ single.

Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo homer with two outs.

In between runs, Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez made a defensive stop on Manny Machado — and followed with a dazzling behind-the-back toss to shortstop Tim Anderson, who threw to first to complete the double play.

A sellout crowd of 52,518 filled Dodger Stadium two years after the third-oldest ballpark in the majors was supposed to host before the game was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HERE’S TO YOU, MS. ROBINSON

Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, with all of the other All-Stars bunched behind him, led the crowd in sending out 100th birthday wishes to Rachel Robinson. On his 1-2-3 count, the crowd and players shouted “Happy birthday, Rachel!” The widow of Jackie Robinson didn’t travel from her home in Connecticut. She visited Dodger Stadium in April on Jackie Robinson Day to mark the 75th anniversary of her husband breaking baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Jackie Robinson’s achievement was honored with on-field comments by Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington and a presentation on the video boards.

FIRST PITCH

Backed by a mariachi band, Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela tossed out the ceremonial first pitch. Fittingly, first-time All-Star Alejandro Kirk of Toronto served as catcher. Kirk and Valenzuela were both born in Mexico. Fernandomania gripped the Dodgers in 1981, when the left-hander won Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in helping LA win the World Series.

FASHION CRITICS

The reviews were mostly negative for the second straight year on the All-Star uniforms. The AL wore dark gray uniforms that blended into the plate umpire’s black shirt and dark gray pants. The NL wore all-white uniforms. Both had gold lettering. Fans were critical on social media, with “atrocious” a frequent critique. Last year, MLB went away from wearing traditional jerseys, which met with heavy online criticism.

MIC’ED UP MANOAH

Alek Manoah, Toronto’s expressive right-hander, wore a microphone and earpiece while pitching the second inning, engaging in an entertaining conversation with Fox analyst and Hall of Famer John Smoltz. “How hard am I throwing?” Manoah asked early. He also sought scouting reports on Joc Pederson and Acuña Jr. Manoah did fine, striking out three and also plunking Jeff McNeil with a pitch. A lot of players were mic’ed up. Fans heard Judge and Stanton talking back and forth while playing the outfield, and Yankees batterymates Nestor Cortes and Jose Trevino talking while working together.

THE SHIFT IS STILL ON

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman batted in the third to the now familiar chants of “Freddie! Freddie!” Even in the exhibition game, an extreme shift was on and he was thrown out from right field. Home Run Derby champion Juan Soto got thrown out by the third baseman playing much closer to second base to end the fifth. Next season, the shift is likely going away in the majors.

TAKING IT EASY

Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully, the voice of the Dodgers for 67 years before retiring in 2016, watched the game from his Los Angeles home. The Bronx-born 94-year-old began calling games when the franchise was located in Brooklyn — and followed the team out West ahead of the 1958 season.

UP NEXT

The regular season resumes with six games on Thursday, including Stanton, Judge and the Yankees playing a doubleheader at Houston. The Yankees own the best record in the majors at 64-28. Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Baker’s Astros have the second-best mark in the AL at 59-32.

Also, it will be Freeman, Betts, Trea Turner and the Dodgers, topping the NL at 60-30, hosting the Giants.

CHILLICOTHE — Apparently, top-seeded Waverly wasn’t about to let third-seeded Hillsboro have another upset.

That’s because the Post 142 Shockers, despite needing nine innings, won in walkoff fashion for their winners’ bracket victory on Tuesday in the Region V American Legion Baseball Seniors Tournament —taking it 3-2 in a morning matchup inside Chillicothe’s VA Memorial Stadium.

That’s correct, with Waverly’s Jase Hurd hitting a deep fly ball into left field in the bottom of the ninth — which went over the Hillsboro defender’s head, and landed for a one-out game-winning single.

It was the Shockers’ 10th and final hit, as Waverly was no-hit by Hillsboro and shut out 7-0 in an SCOL contest only 10 days ago —for the Shockers’ only league loss in eight games played.

Tuesday’s tilt stood tied 2-2 —as the Shockers scored twice in the third, before Hillsboro battled back with both of its points in the fifth.

Going all the way to the ninth, Roger Woodruff —relieving Shocker starting pitcher Ben Nichols on the mound after eight impressive innings —gave up only one Hillsboro hit.

In the bottom half, Woodruff drew a leadoff walk, Tra Swayne sacrifice bunted him over to second, and Alex Boles walked with one away.

The leadoff hitter Hurd hit his high fly to left field, and it was beyond the reach of the Post 129 defender — and which Woodruff crossed when it dropped.

So not only was Woodruff the winning pitcher, he scored the game-winning run.

The Shockers are now 15-12 and, more importantly, play Portsmouth Post 23 in Wednesday’s winners’ bracket final.

First pitch between the top two seeds, right back bright and early at VA Memorial Stadium, is set for 9 a.m.

Portsmouth punched its ticket to the winners’ finals, by erasing a 3-0 deficit against fifth-seeded Chillicothe —and scoring the final 13 runs en route to a 13-3 six-inning mercy-rule rout (see related story).

Nichols notched eight innings pitched for the Shockers, allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out 10.

“Benny was outstanding on the mound for us and Woody came in and threw very well right after him,” said Post 142 coach Jonathan Teeters. “Big win for us to open the tournament. We are excited to remain in the winners’ bracket.”

Hillsboro scored twice off Nichols in the fifth —all with two outs and for all three of his hits.

Isaiah Curtis singled, took second on a wild pitch, Spencer Wyckoff walked, and two batters later, Hunter Burns singled in Curtis and Wyckoff.

The Shockers scored twice in the third —when Boles doubled with one out, L.T. Jordan tripled him home with two outs, and Nichols singled him in.

Jordan, Nichols and Hurd had two hits apiece, as Peyton Harris had a triple in the seventh while Boles walked —but neither scored and sent the game to extra innings.

Other opportunities for the Shockers included Jordan singling in the first and Swayne singling in the fourth but both being stranded, Hurd singling in the fifth but being caught stealing, Roop singling in the sixth but being doubled up as part of a 6-4-3, and Nichols singling but being left at second in the eighth.

But, as it turned out, Waverly wasn’t about to let Hillsboro have another upset —so the Shockers walked it off in the ninth.

CHILLICOTHE — The Colts may have had a fast and early pace on Tuesday, but like any good horse jockey or driver, Vinnie Lonardo quickly —and calmly —reeled Chillicothe in.

It didn’t take long, either, for Portsmouth Post 23 to crack the proverbial whip with the sound of its bats —and mix in some Chillicothe errors, and eight issued free passes.

That said, if the minimum number of victories is three this week for an Ohio Region V American Legion Baseball Seniors Tournament championship, then check off Post 23 for the first leg of that Triple Crown.

That’s because, trailing the Colts 3-0 after their initial at-bat, Portsmouth broke free for the final 13 runs —and as a result corralled Chillicothe 13-3 in six innings in a winners’ bracket bout inside sunsoaked VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe.

That’s correct —the fifth-seeded and upset-minded Colts, which were hammered 28-2 by Portsmouth merely a week ago at Chillicothe’s Hoffman Field for an SCOL regular-season tilt, charged out front for three earned runs on four singles and Post 23’s only error of the day.

The Portsmouth left-hander Lonardo also walked one of his early eight batters, but after David Magill’s two-out and two-run single for the Colts made it 3-0 —Lonardo dealt, and simply dominated, Chillicothe after that.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth provided Lonardo plenty of run support —for starters how about eight runs on five hits and two Chillicothe fielding errors, with a dozen batters seeing the plate in the first.

Throw in a pair of Austin Magill walks, a McGill wild pitch, and even Caeleb McGraw’s RBI-groundout which made it 3-2, and the Blue Jays were the ones off and racing —or rather flying to Wednesday’s winners’ bracket finals.

With Tuesday’s triumph, called following six innings with the 10-run mercy rule, Post 23 raised its record to 16-6 —and shook off any doldrums looming from an entire week of only two games, regular-season wins at Chillicothe (28-2) last Tuesday and at Waverly (5-0) last Thursday.

Speaking of Waverly, and Wednesday’s winners’ bracket final, second-seeded Portsmouth plays the top-seeded Shockers in that affair at 9 a.m. —right back at venerable, and what might be at another steambaked, VA Memorial Stadium.

The winner will advance to Thursday’s championship game —which is being played at Chillicothe High School’s Mount Logan Field.

The Shockers swept Post 23 in regular-season SCOL competition, thus earning the top seed of six for the Region V Tournament.

Thursday’s 5-0 shutout was a non-league duel, as the Shockers needed nine innings on Tuesday morning — nudging Hillsboro 3-2 in that winners’ bracket battle.

Hillsboro had upset on the brain — and so did Chillicothe — although its opening-inning success didn’t include Lonardo fielding a bunt and flipping to catcher Cooper McKenzie for a force out on a squeeze play, the first of Lonardo’s 10 strikeouts, or Isaiah Kelly catching a key fly ball in right field for the third out with two Colts on.

After that, for Chillicothe, as Newfound Glory once sang, it was all downhill from here.

Lonardo allowed only one walk with three hits over his final five frames, as he retired the Colts 1-2-3 in innings three and six —and faced four batters apiece in stanzas two and five.

He struck out two Colts in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth —as Braylon Leach landed two singles as part of Chillicothe’s final three hits, which included D.J. Crocker’s leadoff triple to right field for the fifth.

But Lonardo left him there, ending that threat with the second groundout of the game to shortstop Holden Blankenship.

Post 23 head coach Josh McGraw discussed Lonardo’s difference for the final five innings.

“Vinnie is one of our guys, but he hadn’t thrown in a while, so he was finding his feel on the mound. He struggled in the first inning, his fastball was up and didn’t have much of a curveball. But a lot of guys, a lot of teams, they will feel that pressure right there at that point and shut it down. A game you should win, but in the top of the first you are down 3-0. But we lit it up after that. Scored eight runs in the bottom of the first, two two-run doubles in that inning, and that triggered a little bit in Vinnie,” said McGraw. “From the top of the second through the sixth, he was dominant and I am very proud of him. We needed him to go the whole game. That was our goal, to save pitching for the rest of the tournament, he needed to have this whole game and he did a fabulous job. The top of the fifth, they get a leadoff triple, but he didn’t score. Vinnie wasn’t out there just throwing, but he was big-time pitching.”

Lonardo handled his business on the mound, while the remainder of the Post 23 unit took care of its at the dish.

Blankenship and Brock Kitchen started with singles to center off Austin Magill, then McKenzie doubled to left center, bringing Blankenship in.

Caeleb McGraw grounded out to cross Kitchen, then Kelly reached on an error —setting up designated hitter Lane Hutchinson hitting a grounder, which rolled all the way to the left-centerfield wall for a two-run lead-staking double.

Jakob Tipton reached on another fielding error, then following a fielder’s choice, Jacob Sloan and Blankenship both drew Magill walks —with Sloan’s loading the bases and Blankenship’s bringing in Tipton to make it 5-3.

Hunter Thomas scored on a wild pitch, then Kitchen doubled to left center similar to Hutchinson’s —as Sloan and Blankenship scored for the now 8-3 advantage.

With that, Magill —with only three earned runs allowed and seeing 11 batters —was replaced by Peter Brockman.

Portsmouth pounded out 13 hits, including two apiece by Kitchen, Blankenship and McGraw —as Blankenship led off the fifth with a double, but he and Kitchen who walked fell victims on the bases to the Colts turning a rare but incredible triple play.

However, that was Chillicothe’s high point proceeding the opening inning.

In the fourth, Tipton singled in Kelly who walked, as Thomas reached on an infield hit —with Tipton racing around and in from first as the result of a throwing error.

In the sixth, it was McGraw reaching on an infield hit against Brockman and Landon Hutchinson drawing a one-out walk — as pinch-hitters Aodhan Queen and Tyler Brammer both had back-to-back RBI-singles for a 12-3 lead.

Sloan, who singled in the third, was hit by a Leach pitch to load the bases —and two batters later, Kitchen’s at-bat resulted in an error, bringing Brammer across and ending it.

“Our offense was rolling, and our first six or seven hitters really led us today. We put it in play and we hit the ball hard. When our first five guys get on base, and it all starts with Holden Blankenship in that leadoff spot, we can be dangerous,” said Coach McGraw.

McGraw coaches the Jackson Ironmen in the high school season, as Blankenship represents the Red and White —as does Portsmouth pitcher for Wednesday with Bryson Brown.

Brown gets the ball against the Shockers, as Post 23 tries to punch its ticket to Thursday’s championship.

“Waverly is a very good ballclub. We know what they are and they know what we are,” said the coach. “Just go out and play and see what happens. I expect it to be a great pitching game, and we’re going to go after it pretty hard. A win tomorrow (Wednesday) will put us in the driver’s seat, but you have to play inning by inning, because you’re going to play good teams no matter what.”

* * *

Chillicothe 300 000 — 3 7 4

Portsmouth 800 203 —13 13 1

Chillicothe: Austin McGill 2/3IP, 8R, 3ER, 5H, 0HB, 2BB, 0K, 11BF; Peter Brockman 4 2/3IP, 4R, 3ER, 7H, 0HB, 5BB, 2K, 23BF; Braylon Leach 1/3IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 1HB, 0BB, 0K, 4BF

Portsmouth: Vinnie Lonardo 6IP, 3R, 3ER, 7H, 0HB, 2BB, 10K, 27BF

W — Vinnie Lonardo; L — Austin McGill

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Juan Soto bet heavily on his own talent and health by turning down a massive, long-term contract extension from the Washington Nationals.

Soto then went to the Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium and showed why he almost certainly can’t lose.

Soto won the Derby for the first time on Monday night, holding off Seattle Mariners rookie Julio Rodríguez 19-18 in the final.

The 23-year-old Soto hit 53 total homers, beating each of his three opponents by one homer while hitting second each time in the midseason power showcase.

Soto was locked in at the plate even after spending an hour earlier at Chavez Ravine answering repeated questions about his possible departure from the Nats after turning down a $440 million offer.

“It feels amazing. It feels tiring,” said Soto, a reserve on the NL All-Star team for Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic. “I just tried to concentrate to square off the balls, because I know I have the power.”

With a big celebratory bat flip after the final homer dropped into the stands,

Soto became the second-youngest Home Run Derby winner in baseball history — by a single day.

At 23 years and 266 days old, Soto is only one day older than Juan González was when he won in 1993.

Soto hit a 482-foot blast to right-center while beating Cleveland’s José Ramírez 18-17 in the first round, and he got past 42-year-old Albert Pujols 16-15 to reach the final.

Rodríguez was even more impressive in the first two rounds while signaling his arrival on baseball’s biggest stages, particularly when he knocked off two-time defending champion Pete Alonso of the Mets 31-23 in the second round.

Only four players had managed to hit 30 homers in a single Derby round before the Mariners’ 21-year-old phenom did it twice, and he finished the night with 81 of them.

“What did I show the fans? Who I am,” said Rodríguez, who made his big league debut on April 8 and hit his first career homer on May 1. “A little bit of my style, of who I am. I think they know a little bit now.”

In the final-round matchup between Dominican-born friends who sometimes play “Call of Duty” together, Soto started slowly while batting second, failing to hit his first homer until his 10th swing.

He eventually caught fire to win a lively Derby that began with an on-field pyrotechnic flame display that spooked the competitors.

Soto hit the winning 415-foot homer with 20 seconds of bonus time to spare, then whipped his bat in the air before being swarmed by other Dominican All-Stars.

His homers traveled a total of 5.41 miles.

Soto earns a $1 million prize — a whole lot more than his $700,000 salary this season — and another highlight on his resume as his time with Washington possibly nears an end.

Soto started his day at Dodger Stadium answering rapid-fire questions in two languages about his future, with agent Scott Boras standing right next to him throughout the grilling.

“I’m a lone survivor,” Soto said with a laugh. “I’ve been going through all this stuff, and I’m still here standing up and with my chin up, all the time. And that shows you I can go through anything.”

Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year contract to stay with the Nationals in a decision first reported by The Athletic last weekend, and he could be traded by the end of the month.

That contract would have been the biggest in total value and the 19th-largest by average salary in baseball history.

“Right now, I’m not even thinking about it,” Soto said, while hoisting the trophy over his head. “I’m a champion, and I will be a champion for the Nationals.”

Potential suitors for Soto are chasing a former World Series champion still reaching his prime, one whose power is just one aspect of his overall ability — but as he showed in Los Angeles, the long ball is a key component of his skills.

Soto will turn 26 years old around the time when he is eligible for free agency after the 2024 season.

But until the final, the Derby’s best stories were the oldest and the youngest competitors.

Pujols beat top-seeded Kyle Schwarber in a heartwarming first-round upset before Soto finished his night in a victory that probably didn’t much bother Pujols, an idol to fellow Dominican stars such as Soto and Rodríguez.

“In (the Dominican Republic), I know all the people are really proud,” Soto said. “Since we all three were in the finals, three Dominicans, it just shows you, it’s a win for the DR, so we feel pretty proud about it.”

Pujols, a special commissioner’s invitee for Tuesday’s game, was embraced by both his fellow All-Stars and the Southern California fans who cheered for him for nine seasons in Anaheim and again last year with the Dodgers.

Rodríguez became the third-youngest Derby finalist at 21 years, 201 days old, with only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bryce Harper getting there quicker.

Rodríguez will have another chance to become the youngest Derby winner next year at home in Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, since he’ll still be younger than González was in 1993 or Soto is today.

Rodríguez’s 32 dingers against Texas’ Corey Seager in the first round were the second-most ever in that round, and the rookie was nearly as sharp in the second round while finishing off Alonso, whose mid-competition meditation sessions didn’t do the trick.

Pujols was seemingly everybody’s sentimental favorite competitor heading into his fifth and final Home Run Derby, this time as a platoon player with just six homers this season for the Cardinals.

Pujols is fifth on baseball’s career list with 685 homers, but he hadn’t tried the Derby since 2015 while with the Angels.

He hit just one homer in the first minute at Dodger Stadium before taking his timeout and choosing a lighter bat, which allowed him to finish strong with 13 homers in regular time in the opening round — including a break for a 30-second ovation from the other All-Stars, who gathered around him and cheered before his bonus time.

Pujols’ total was the lowest so far in the Derby, and he thought he was done — he even gave away his batting gloves to Joe Musgrove’s cousin.

He had to retrieve the gloves for overtime after Schwarber managed only 13 himself, and Pujols held off Schwarber to advance.

SPORTS SCOREBOARD —July 19

American Legion Baseball —Region V Srs. Tournament

(1) Waverly 3, (3) Hillsboro 2, 9 innings

(2) Portsmouth 13, (5) Chillicothe 3, 6 innings

(4) Circleville 9, (3) Hillsboro 0 (loser eliminated)

(6) Yeager-Benson 15, (5) Chillicothe 3, 6 innings (loser eliminated)

SPORTS SCOREBOARD —July 20

American Legion Baseball —Region V Srs. Tournament

(2) Portsmouth 16, (1) Waverly 3

(6) Yeager-Benson 19, (4) Circleville 1, 5 innings (loser eliminated)

(6) Yeager-Benson 12, (1) Waverly 0, 5 innings (loser eliminated)

SPORTS SCOREBOARD —July 21

American Legion Baseball —Region V Srs. Tournament

(2) Portsmouth vs. (6) Yeager-Benson, 10 a.m. (championship game)

(2) Portsmouth vs. (6) Yeager-Benson, 1 p.m. (championship game, if needed)

WEST PORTSMOUTH — Racing was intense on Saturday night at Portsmouth Raceway Park on “Smoke Out Pizza & BBQ” Jackie Boggs Night for The Kids, presented by 4B Motorsports, as fans were witness to a last-lap pass in the Late Model Feature and a first-time winner in the Limited Lates.

Rod Conley got past brother R.J. Conley on the final circuit to claim his first PRP Late Model A-Main victory of the season.

The night had duel Modified Features with Brian Skaggs winning the first and Jeremy Rayburn the second.

The evening also presented a pair of Limited Late Model A-Mains, won by Evyian Terry and first-time-ever winner Jesse Lyons Jr.

Derek Richmond took the checkers in the Sport Mods.

On a night when children 12-and-under received free general admission, and many bicycles and other door prizes were given away to the 12-and-under crowd, the action on the track was as fierce as ever.

After a little bit of hot-lapping, the evening got underway with a Modified and Limited Late Model Feature that had gotten rained out on July 1.

The 20-lap Modified A-Main was dominated by Pedro’s Skaggs.

He led every lap from start to finish.

Ben Adkins, Rayburn, Anthony Slusher and Brandon Medinger rounded out the top-5.

The first Limited Late Model A-Main was a thriller, as Catlettsburg’s (Ky.) Evyian Terry logged his first feature win of the season — fending off strong challenges throughout the race from several different drivers.

Robbie Lewis, Lyons Jr., Garret McCloud and Kevin Terry rounded out the top-5.

The Late Model A-Main was virtually dominated by R.J. Conley, who led the first 24 laps of the 25-lap event.

Conley built a sizeable lead, but brother Rod Conley started reeling him in with about six to go.

On the last lap going into turn one, R.J. went low with a lapped car in front of him and Rod went high — managing to pass both R.J. and the lapped car of Chuck Simons.

The track had a cushion all evening, and the fastest way around appeared to be up top.

Rod Conley, who is known for liking to run the bottom, said in victory lane after the race that when barreling into the first turn on the final lap, “I just held it to the floor!”

R.J Conley, Brandon Fouts, Nick Bocook and Charlie Jude completed the top-5.

R.J. Conley was the night’s fast qualifier.

The second Modified Feature of the evening appeared to be on its way to going the exact same way the first one did.

Skaggs led the first 13 laps before Rayburn went by him on the high side.

Like Rod Conley, Rayburn typically likes running low, but the two-time PRP Champion made it work up top.

Three laps later, Skaggs had to pull off with damage to his right front suspension.

For the second time of the night in a Modified A-Main, Adkins would finish as runner-up.

Brandon Smith, Slusher and Adam Colley completed the top-5.

Logan Burke was The Dynamic Shock Service Modified Fast Qualifier.

In his 11th year of racing at PRP, Franklin Furnace’s Lyons Jr. got his first A-Main victory in the second O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Late Model A-Main.

Lyons drove a great race, keeping his car at the front of the field the entire 15 laps.

McCloud, Lewis, Evyian Terry and Kevin Terry rounded out the top-5.

In the Sport Mod Feature, Stout’s Richmond was dominant.

He led every single circuit en route to his second PRP win of the season.

Joe McClain, Stevie Thornsberry, Landon Barker and Jeromy Brady made up the top 5.

Portsmouth Raceway Park will be back in action this coming Saturday (July 23) — as DESCO Federal Credit Union will present The Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association 410 Winged Sprint Cars, The Giovanni’s Wholesale Pizza Late Models presented by Impact Race Gear, The Local Happenings App Modifieds, and The Express Oil & Tire Engineers Sport Mods.

Gates will open at 4 p.m., with racing at approximately 7:30 p.m.