Eduardo Escobar made the most of his limited All-Star Game playing appearance, singling in his only at-bat in the bottom of the eighth inning of the National League's 5-2 loss to the American League.

The lone D-backs representative, who was making his first All-Star appearance after 11 big league seasons, entered the game at third base for the National League in the top of the seventh inning.

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Escobar came to the plate in the eighth with a runner on first against Red Sox closer Matt Barnes and on the eighth pitch of the at-bat, he hit a knuckle curve into center to put runners on first and second.

That will certainly be something Escobar will never forget, but really even if he hadn't gotten in the game, just being in Denver as an All-Star was enough. As a kid growing up in Venezuela, Escobar dreamed of one day playing in a Midsummer Classic.

“It’s been one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life," Escobar said. "This is something that I always strived for, I worked really hard to accomplish this. I think that when you work hard and you do things with love, anything is possible. I really worked hard for this and God knows that I deserved it and I hope this isn’t the only one, but just the first of many.”

Escobar brought his family with him to join in the All-Star Game experience. When he got the news that he had been selected to the team, Escobar shed tears while his teammates were thrilled for a man they look at as a leader in the clubhouse.

“I just tried to forget that 2020 was a negative year and I came into this season with a positive attitude and look at the results," Escobar said. "I feel so happy. I don’t think anybody knows how happy I am right now because I’ve worked really, really hard for this.”

Escobar's teammates knew how hard 2020 was for Escobar. The pandemic-shortened season was one of the worst of his career as he slashed .212/.270/.335 and he later admitted that he might have been carrying too much weight.

The 32-year-old transformed his body in the offseason and the results were noticeable, both visually and statistically as he went into the break with 20 homers and 60 RBIs to go with a .785 OPS.

"You could see it on his face," Arizona first baseman Christian Walker said of Escobar's reaction to his All-Star selection. "It was almost a different expression than I’d ever seen on Eddie. Happy for himself and proud and still grateful -- not in a weird, cocky way or a selfish way. Almost relieved. He works his [butt] off. All the way back to the offseason, coming in a few pounds lighter. You can’t overlook that. Stuff he’s been working on for six months, eight months, adds up and leads to now. It’s not an accident that he has the success that he has.”

It has been an incredibly difficult season for the D-backs, who own the worst record in baseball and have suffered through losing streaks of 13 and 17 games, but through it all, Escobar's performance and positivity have shone through.

The All-Star Game selection was his reward and he enjoyed every minute.

“You’re in a clubhouse just sharing things with all these stars," Escobar said. "This is the best that can happen to you in this game, honestly. You just feel very proud to be here and this is what you work for, to be here.”