BETANCES HITS

SAN DIEGO — The game plan was the same as always: Dellin Betances in the seventh and Andrew Miller in the eighth.

Only instead of pitching for the Yankees, the two All-Stars were pitching for the American League in an effort to secure home-field advantage in the World Series.

“You don’t want to be the guy that blows it,” Betances said. “This game means a lot.”

Betances certainly didn’t blow it, striking out two while allowing a single during a scoreless seventh. He was the only pitcher in the entire game to record multiple strikeouts, his fastball clocking in as high as 101 mph.

“It’s mostly adrenaline,” said Betances, a three-time All-Star pitching in his second career game. “This All-Star Game was awesome; San Diego did a great job hosting. In a sold-out 4-2 game, adrenaline kicks in.”

As he does quite often, Betances turned the two-run lead over to Miller, a first-timer in the event. Miller gave up a one-out single by Jonathan Lucroy, but he struck out Jay Bruce for the second out and appeared to be on his way to a typically quick inning.

But Starlin Marte had a pinch-hit single and Miller walked Adam Duvall, loading the bases. With Miller’s pitch count already up to 28, AL manager Ned Yost came to the mound and lifted him for Will Harris, who struck out Aledmys Diaz to protect the lead and take Miller off the hook.

“I wish I had pitched like (Betances) did,” Miller said. “There’s a lot going on, a lot of new stuff. I’ll take it. My focus now is on real baseball games. … It’s certainly something I’ll never forget, but I’m looking forward to a couple days to relax and get ready for the Red Sox.”

Carlos Beltran, the third Yankee in the game, went 0-for-1 with a fly out against Max Scherzer. He had no issues with his hamstring as he played two innings in right field.

“My wife is here, my kids, they got a chance to see their dad play a little bit and get an at-bat against one of the nastiest pitchers in the game,” Beltran said. “I felt like I was fighting for my life. It was good.”

With home-field advantage secured for the AL, Betances is hopeful the Yankees can make a run in the second half and utilize it for themselves.

“Hopefully it’s us using it to our advantage,” Betances said. “We have a lot of work in the second half, but we have to play good ball.”