Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay's slugging first baseman, was named to the American League's all-star squad as a replacement for Boston's Dustin Pedroia, completing the selection of the entire Rays' infield.
Pedroia - last season's AL MVP - was elected by the fans to start the game at second base. But his wife, Kelli, is seven months pregnant and has been in the hospital since Monday with complications.
AL manager Joe Maddon said Toronto's Aaron Hill would start at second.
The addition of Pena means Tampa Bay's entire infield is on the team, including third baseman Evan Longoria, shortstop Jason Bartlett, and second baseman Ben Zobrist.
The last club to put four infielders in the All-Star Game was the 2002 New York Yankees, with first baseman Jason Giambi, second baseman Alfonso Soriano, shortstop Derek Jeter, and third baseman Robin Ventura.
Pena was leading the league with 24 homers and will take part in the Home Run Derby tonight.
Minnesota's Joe Mauer, Detroit's Brandon Inge, and Texas' Nelson Cruz also will tee it up against an NL wrecking crew composed of four powerful first basemen: the Phillies' Ryan Howard, St. Louis' Albert Pujols, Milwaukee's Prince Fielder, and San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez.
Why not a crocodile?
Rangers shortstop Omar Vizquel, who lives in the Seattle area in the off-season, surprised his Texas teammates by bringing his three pet kangaroos into the clubhouse before the game at the Mariners' Safeco Field.
By the numbers
Oakland's 37-49 mark is the team's worst at the intermission since the 1997 club was 37-52. The A's also are in the AL West cellar for the first time since '97.
On May 18, Toronto was 27-14 and in first place. Now the Blue Jays are 44-46 and 11 games out.
Chicago's Jim Thome hit his 555th career homer in a 13-7 loss to Minnesota. The slugger is No. 13 on the all-time list. Reggie Jackson, No. 12, had 563.
In Dom's memory
The Red Sox honored Dom DiMaggio by dedicating Fenway Park's center-field flagpole to him and raising a banner with his name on it just below the American flag.
The Boston centerfielder and younger brother of Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio died May 8 at age 92. The career .298 hitter played his entire major-league career, from 1940 to 1953, with the Red Sox.
Noteworthy
Next year's All-Star Game is scheduled in Anaheim, and the 2011 game will be in Phoenix. Boston would like to host it in 2012 for the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. . . . Tests at a hospital on Saturday night showed that Tampa Bay catcher Dioner Navarro does not have a concussion, and the Rays said he could be back in the lineup after the all-star break. . . . Tampa Bay placed reliever Grant Balfour, a native of Australia, on the bereavement list and recalled catcher John Jaso from triple-A Durham. Balfour is returning Down Under to attend a family funeral. . . . The Minnesota Twins said they would recall second baseman Alexi Casilla from triple-A Rochester on Friday. Casilla was the starting second baseman out of spring training, but he slumped badly early in the season. Infielder Matt Tolbert will be sent to Rochester.
Contact staff writer Don McKee at 215-854-4611 or
dmckee@phillynews.com.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
