Tweet
Four Red Sox, three Cubs to start in 2008 All-Star Game
ESPN.com news services
Updated: July 6, 2008, 3:01 PM ET
The American League's All-Star starters have a distinct Red Sox-flavor. And the National League starting lineup includes three Chicago Cubs.
Fans voted Red Sox players to start in four of the nine positions. Kevin Youkilis will start at first base, Dustin Pedroia at second, Manny Ramirez in the outfield and David Ortiz at designated hitter.
Ortiz was elected to start as the designated hitter, but a wrist injury will keep him sidelined. Rangers slugger Milton Bradley will take Ortiz's place.
Catcher Geovany Soto and outfielders Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome are the three Cubs players in the NL's starting lineup. Soto will become the first rookie catcher to start for the NL.
Soriano, who has been out with a broken left hand, may return in time to play.
The other starters in the American League: Twins catcher Joe Mauer, Yankees Derek Jeter (shortstop) and Alex Rodriguez (third base), and the Rangers' Josh Hamilton and Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki in the outfield.
The other starters on the NL's squad include: Astros first baseman Lance Berkman, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, Braves third baseman Chipper Jones and Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun.
Braun overtook Ken Griffey Jr. in the final week of balloting. The Tampa Bay Rays, with the best record in the majors, did not have a single player elected to start the July 15 game at Yankee Stadium.
Rodriguez was the top overall vote getter (3,934,518). Utley led all NL players with 3,889,602 votes.
In all, seven players (Youkilis, Pedroia, Hamilton, Soto, Ramirez, Fukudome, Braun) will be making their first start in an All-Star Game.
Once again, the league that wins the All-Star Game will get home-field advantage in the World Series.
The AL has not lost an All-Star Game since 1996 at Veterans Stadium. Since then, the AL has won 10 and tied one.
ESPN.com news services
Updated: July 6, 2008, 3:01 PM ET
The American League's All-Star starters have a distinct Red Sox-flavor. And the National League starting lineup includes three Chicago Cubs.
Fans voted Red Sox players to start in four of the nine positions. Kevin Youkilis will start at first base, Dustin Pedroia at second, Manny Ramirez in the outfield and David Ortiz at designated hitter.
Ortiz was elected to start as the designated hitter, but a wrist injury will keep him sidelined. Rangers slugger Milton Bradley will take Ortiz's place.
Catcher Geovany Soto and outfielders Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome are the three Cubs players in the NL's starting lineup. Soto will become the first rookie catcher to start for the NL.
Soriano, who has been out with a broken left hand, may return in time to play.
The other starters in the American League: Twins catcher Joe Mauer, Yankees Derek Jeter (shortstop) and Alex Rodriguez (third base), and the Rangers' Josh Hamilton and Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki in the outfield.
The other starters on the NL's squad include: Astros first baseman Lance Berkman, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, Braves third baseman Chipper Jones and Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun.
Braun overtook Ken Griffey Jr. in the final week of balloting. The Tampa Bay Rays, with the best record in the majors, did not have a single player elected to start the July 15 game at Yankee Stadium.
Rodriguez was the top overall vote getter (3,934,518). Utley led all NL players with 3,889,602 votes.
In all, seven players (Youkilis, Pedroia, Hamilton, Soto, Ramirez, Fukudome, Braun) will be making their first start in an All-Star Game.
Once again, the league that wins the All-Star Game will get home-field advantage in the World Series.
The AL has not lost an All-Star Game since 1996 at Veterans Stadium. Since then, the AL has won 10 and tied one.
Comment