Burrell boosts all-star bid

He has started 82 games this season but has finished 31 of them. That is a drag for Burrell, who would love the at-bats he loses every year when he is pulled for defensive purposes. But it certainly has not affected his productivity. In fact, Burrell, who hit a home run last night in a 7-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves, could be headed to his first All-Star Game.

"I've always said it would be a great thrill to be part of that," Burrell said. "But it's a tricky deal because there are a lot of outfielders involved."

But few have been better than Burrell. He entered last night ranked first among National League outfielders in home runs (20), on-base-plus-slugging percentage (.998), and slugging percentage (.584) and second in on-base percentage (.414).

He might have even more RBIs, but he is hitting behind Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. "Utley and Howard take all the guys off base," Burrell joked.

Burrell will not win the fan vote, but he could make the team as a reserve when rosters are announced Sunday. If he fails to make the team as a reserve, he could be on an online ballot in which fans choose each team's final roster spot. Former Phillies rightfielder Bobby Abreu made his first all-star team that way in 2004.

"I'd love to see him make the all-star team," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's had some big RBIs. He's had some clutch hits for us."

If Howard had hit for a better average, he would seem to be a lock. He hit a three-run homer to left field in the third to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead, although he had two errors in the bottom of the ninth inning that loaded the bases with two outs.

Only Utley (23), Dan Uggla (23) and Lance Berkman (22) have more home runs in the National League than Howard (21) and Burrell (21).

No one in the National League has more RBIs than Howard's 71. (In the AL, Texas' Josh Hamilton has 82.)

"That shows he's contributing," Manuel said. "That shows he's a run producer. Until we find somebody who can knock in 71, we might have to overlook [the batting average]. I mean, who else has got 71?"

Nobody.

Read Todd Zolecki's Phillies blog at http://go.philly.com/pzone.