Gonzalez, Bell earn All-Star honors

NEW YORK  — While he couldn’t outpace reigning MVP Albert Pujols for the starting first-base spot, San Diego slugger Adrian Gonzalez was voted into the the Major League Basebal All-Star game by coaches, managers and players.

He’ll be joined by Padres closer Heath Bell in St. Louis.

Having a career year with 24 HRs and 51 RBI so far, Gonzalez will play in his second straight Midsummer Classic. For Bell, who is tied for the MLB lead with 23 saves while sporting a 1.53 ERA, it will be his first.

For Pujols, he will be in a familiar spot when St. Louis hosts the 80th All-Star game on July 14. Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield meanwhile, is headed to unfamiliar territory.

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Pujols was the leading vote-getter in balloting results announced Sunday by MLB, giving the Cardinals first baseman the start in his home ballpark.

The NL MVP is well on his way to another amazing year, leading the majors with 31 homers and 82 RBIs. It’s his eighth All-Star selection in nine seasons and fifth start.

Wakefield made his first All-Star roster in his 17th season, one of a major league-high six Red Sox headed to Busch Stadium for the July 14 game. The 42-year-old right-hander is tied for the big league lead with 10 wins.

Wakefield got a standing ovation when Boston’s All-Stars were announced at Fenway Park, and he acknowledged the cheering crowd with a wave.

Teammate Dustin Pedroia, the reigning AL MVP, passed Texas’ Ian Kinsler in a close vote at second base and left fielder Jason Bay also won a spot in the lineup.

While Pedroia rallied to get the start, Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis was caught by Yankees star Mark Teixeira in the final voting. It will be Teixeira’s first All-Star game start.

Youkilis made the team, anyway, along with Boston ace Josh Beckett and closer Jonathan Papelbon.

The injury-riddled Mets lead the NL with four selections. Center fielder Carlos Beltran and third baseman David Wright were both elected by the fans, but Beltran has been out with a bruised right knee and likely won’t play.

New York ace Johan Santana and closer Francisco Rodriguez also were selected.

Starting for the NL: Pujols at first, Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez, Wright at third, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and Beltran, Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun and Philadelphia’s Raul Ibanez in the outfield.

Molina, who turns 27 on July 13 and is the youngest of three brothers playing catcher in the majors, becomes the first of his siblings to make the All-Star game.

The AL starting lineup: Teixeira at first, Pedroia at second, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria, outfielders Bay, Josh Hamilton of Texas and Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle, and Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer.

Hamilton held onto his starting spot despite being on the disabled list for much of the first half with an abdominal injury. He said he would play in the game if elected, but will not participate in the Home Run Derby.

Jeter was the leading vote-getter in the AL and will make his 10th appearance and sixth start in the Midsummer Classic.

Jeter and the AL beat the National League 4-3 in 15 innings at Yankee Stadium last season to improve to 11-0-1 since the NL last won in 1996 at Philadelphia’s old Veterans Stadium, the longest unbeaten streak in the game’s history.

Once again, the league that wins the All-Star game will get home-field advantage in the World Series.

There is still one spot to be determined on each 33-man roster, which was increased by one from last year.

The AL candidates for the last spot in Internet voting: Kinsler, Toronto designated hitter Adam Lind, third basemen Chone Figgins of the Angels and Brandon Inge of Detroit, and Rays first baseman Carlos Pena.

The NL candidates: Arizona third baseman Mark Reynolds, outfielders Matt Kemp of the Dodgers and Shane Victorino of the Phillies, Giants infielder Pablo Sandoval and Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, July 5th, 2009 at 2:58 pm and is filed under Baseball, Padres, Sports . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.