By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
For the 12th time since 1986, MLB All-Stars and Japan All-Stars teamed up for a multi-game series. While the MLB All-Stars won nine of the first 10 series, they have fallen in each off the last two since 2014.
WATCH: Rhys Hoskins Launches Solo Home Run in Japan All-Star Series
The 2018 Japan All-Star Series concluded on Thursday, with Japan winning five of six games, outscoring the MLB All-Stars 37-28 and outhitting .288-.271. The MLB All-Stars outhomered Japan 10-4, with the Phillies' Rhys Hoskins (2, tied with three others for the series lead) and Carlos Santana (1, three-run home run) accounting for three of the total. Hoskins finished the series batting .167 with a .711 OPS, while Santana finished with a .263 batting average and .760 OPS. Santana's five RBI tied with Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto for the most among MLB All-Stars.
While players took the games themselves seriously, the series was also a time for them to bond with Japanese fans, including youth baseball players. Hoskins gave away two of his bats, and pledged respect and "fair play" by delivering the "Players Oath" to more than four-dozen youth baseball players. Santana similarly threw his cap and gloves into the stands.
"Today, we declare as a team and as individuals our dedication to fair play in all aspects of the game of baseball," Hoskins told the kids, who were invited onto the field. "We promise to respect each other, our competitors, the umpires and the game itself. We'll promise to abide by the rules and give 100 percent effort to provide the best possible performance for the fans here tonight."
Hoskins and Santana will not be playing again in Japan for the unforeseeable future, unless either surprisingly get traded to the Seattle Mariners or Oakland Athletics this offseason. Both teams will open the 2019 regular season in Japan in late March.
Former and recently retired Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was named Most Valuable Player of the 2006 series, in which the MLB All-Stars swept Japan, 5-0.
