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Longoria, Hart join All-Stars

Associated Press Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria, right, will gives up a Vegas vacation for an All-Star bid. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Associated Press Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria, right, will gives up a Vegas vacation for an All-Star bid. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Evan Longoria had big plans for next week’s All-Star break – a trip to Las Vegas with some friends.

Tampa Bay’s rookie third baseman ended up with an even better trip to New York for the last All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.

Longoria and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Corey Hart were elected All-Stars by fans in Internet balloting that ended Thursday.

“I’m sure they’ll find a way to get to the game now,” Longoria said of his abandoned buddies.

Longoria received 9 million votes for the American League spot and was followed by Jermaine Dye of the Chicago White Sox, Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees, Brian Roberts of Baltimore and Jose Guillen of Kansas City.

Hart got 8 million votes for the National League spot and was followed by the New York Mets’ David Wright, Philadelphia’s Pat Burrell, San Francisco’s Aaron Rowand and Houston’s Carlos Lee.

One more roster spot remained to be filled, with N.L. manager Clint Hurdle having to decide on a replacement for injured Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano. Colorado’s Matt Holliday, originally selected as a reserve, will replace Soriano in the starting lineup.

No place like home

Fans who root, root, root for the home team are leaving ballparks a lot happier this year.

Home teams have won nearly 57 percent of games, the highest figure in the major leagues since 1978.

Boston is 34-10 at Fenway Park and 21-29 on the road. The Chicago Cubs are 35-11 at Wrigley Field and 20-26 away from home. Four of the six division leaders have losing records on the road.

Alou suffers setback

Mets left fielder Moises Alou likely will miss the rest of the year because of a torn left hamstring, a setback that could mean the end of his 17-season career.

Trying to rehab a lingering strained left calf, the oft-injured Alou left Wednesday’s game for Double-A Binghamton because of cramping in his hamstring. Doctors in New York discovered the tear Thursday.

Mets general manger Omar Minaya said surgery was the recommended remedy, but added the 42-year-old Alou would make the final decision.