Yankees' Cody Bellinger (MVP) and Ben Rice are most essential All-Stars in AL victory

PHILADELPHIA — On July 4, the day Cody Bellinger found out he’d be returning to the All-Star Game for the first time in seven years, the Yankees’ outfielder was grinding through his worst stretch this season.

One RBI in 19 games. Batting just .114 over that span with a .348 OPS. Frankly, not exactly All-Star material.

But Tuesday night, amid the raucous boos from a pro-Phillies sellout crowd, Bellinger shined the brightest at Citizens Bank Park, earning MVP honors with a two-run single off hometown favorite Cristopher Sanchez in the first inning to help deliver the American League’s 4-0 victory over the NL.

“Baseball is the craziest game in the world,” said Bellinger, the Ted Williams MVP trophy beside him, along with his two daughters, Caiden and Cy. “It really is. Sometimes it’s unexplainable.”

Bellinger’s bases-loaded single was his first hit in three trips to the All-Star Game. Ben Rice, who usually bats ahead of him atop the Yankees’ lineup, followed Bellinger this time with his own RBI single to put the AL up 3-0. Rice was coming off a first-round exit in Monday night’s Home Run Derby — his total of seven homers was the fewest — but did a better job harnessing the adrenaline rush in the All-Star Game itself.

“I was so excited for him,” Rice said of Bellinger. “Especially seeing him drive in those two runs early. From the on-deck circle, I was so fired up for him.”

Bellinger also celebrated his 31st birthday on the eve of the All-Star Game, a decade after he made his debut in the Midsummer Classic, along with winning Rookie of the Year and finishing ninth in the MVP voting with the Dodgers. Two teams later, with some lean years in between, made him treasure this trip to Philly, even before becoming the fourth Yankee to win the All-Star MVP, joining Giancarlo Stanton (2022), Mariano Rivera (2013) and Derek Jeter (2000).

“Pretty special,” Bellinger said. “My first few years in the big leagues, I was like, I’ll be here every year. Took a long time to get back. It’s such a competitive league and it’s hard being an All-Star. Health, performance, it all has to come together. Honestly, this one I just really enjoyed it.”

Bellinger, along with Rice and Cam Schlittler, will get to re-live at least one part of their All-Star experience when the Yankees visit the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park later this month (July 24-26). They’re expecting plenty more boos that weekend, as well, just like every time a Yankee was introduced during the All-Star festivities.

“It’s a nice little taste to see how they are,” Schlittler said. “It’s a good thing to be booed. I prefer to be booed. Gets more intense. The atmosphere is great. I feed off that. After they were booing kids on the field [Monday] for not catching the ball, it will be a lot of fun.”

By David Lennon

dave.lennon@newsday.comDPLennon

David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.