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Cleveland Indians left-hander Cliff Lee and
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Ben Sheets have been chosen as the starting pitchers for Tuesday's All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.
American League manager Terry Francona of the Boston Red Sox and National League skipper Clint Hurdle of the Colorado Rockies made the announcements at a Monday news conference, also laying out the starting lineups for their respective teams.
"There are a lot of pitchers this year that have had outstanding seasons but none match up to Cliff Lee," Francona said.
Meanwhile, Francona said he didn't seriously consider starting New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. Speculation in recent days had the Yankees superstar getting the nod since this will be the last All-Star Game played in the "House that Ruth Built." New York is set to move into a brand new Yankee Stadium next season.
"Mariano may be the greatest reliever of all time but he's not a starter," Francona said. "I think we are doing it correctly."
Lee is a sterling 12-2 with a 2.31 earned run average in 18 starts in the first half. He is tied for first in the AL in wins, and became just the fourth pitcher in Indians franchise history to start a season 11-1 or better and the first since Charles Nagy in 1996. Nagy was also the last Cleveland pitcher to start an All-Star Game that season.
"I would like to thank Terry Francona for the opportunity to start the game," Lee said. "This is such an honor, I am completely baffled and honored. Hopefully, I can represent the Cleveland Indians well and give the American League team a chance to win the game."
Sheets, despite a loss to the Rockies in his last start, is 10-3 this season with a 2.85 ERA, 108 strikeouts and just 28 walks in 123 innings. Hurdle also said Sheets' performance against his team influenced his decision.
"The fact he struck out 11 of us in six innings kind of caught my eye," Hurdle said.
Sheets will be the first Brewers pitcher to start a Mid-Summer Classic.
"I am really looking forward to going out and pitching in the last All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium," Sheets said. "I am just planning on going out there and having fun."
The lineup for the American League will open with Seattle right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, who will be followed by New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and Texas Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton. Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez will hit cleanup.
Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez will bat fifth and play left field, with Texas designated hitter Milton Bradley next. Boston's Kevin Youkilis will hit seventh and play first base, with Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer and second baseman Dustin Pedroia of the BoSox rounding out the order.
Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez will lead off for the National League and will be followed by Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, Houston Astros first baseman Lance Berkman and St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols, who will start as the designated hitter.
Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones will bat fifth, followed by outfielders Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies, Ryan Braun of the Brewers and Kosuke Fukudome of the Chicago Cubs. Holliday will shift from his normal position in left to play right field, while Braun will play left and Fukudome will man center.
Fukudome's teammate, catcher Geovany Soto, will bat ninth.
