Piazza will likely catch Clemens

Roger Clemens was picked for his first N.L. All-Star team Sunday and Mike Piazza was elected by fans to start the July 13 game in Houston, putting the Rocket in line to throw the opening pitch to his nemesis.

Clemens, a nine-time All-Star in the American League, was among five starting pitchers voted to the National League team by major league players, managers and coaches. With a 10-2 record in his first season with his hometown Astros, Clemens is likely to start for the N.L.

Piazza, in what is likely to be his final All-Star appearance as a catcher, was elected to start for the 10th time, his 11th All-Star selection overall. He’s caught just 34 games for the New York Mets this season and played first base in 37.

“We both have a job to do. I’m sure it will be totally professional,” Piazza said. “I don’t think it’s going to be that hard. We’re two guys who know what to do.”

Clemens, then with the Yankees, beaned Piazza in July 2000. In Game 2 of the World Series that October, he threw the jagged barrel of a shattered bat in the direction of Piazza, earning a $50,000 fine.

“It’s not that a big deal. It’s definitely not larger than the game, unless you all make it that,” the 41-year-old Clemens told reporters in Houston. “I’m not too concerned about that. I’m professional about my work and so is Mike.”

There was just one change among starters in the final week of fan voting, with Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki overtaking the Yankees’ Hideki Matsui for the final A.L. outfield spot.

Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa were elected to start in the N.L. outfield, the first time three players with 500 home runs will start. Griffey is going to the All-Star game for the first time since 2000, which was his 11th straight selection.

Carlos Beltran, traded from Kansas City to Houston last month, was voted an A.L. reserve, his first All-Star selection, but the deal means he can’t play in the game unless he’s added to the N.L. team as a replacement.

Bonds breaks walks record

Barry Bonds became baseball’s all-time walks leader, breaking Rickey Henderson’s major league record when he drew his 2,191st from Oakland reliever Chad Bradford in the eighth inning in San Francisco.

The San Francisco slugger had an 0-2 count then drew four straight balls from Bradford. Bonds received a standing ovation, walked to first and picked up the base to save as a memento of the milestone.

The six-time N.L. MVP walked on a 3-2 pitch by Oakland starter Mark Mulder leading off the sixth inning. The A’s were leading 8-3. Bonds was plunked on the right hand in the second inning and threw his bat down in pain and frustration, but stayed in the game. He hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

•San Francisco relievers Tyler Walker and Felix Rodriguez were both ejected and so was manager Felipe Alou after the pitchers plunked Oakland players.

Walker was ejected in the sixth for hitting A’s starter Mark Mulder with a pitch on his right side, causing Alou to charge out and scream for several minutes at the umpires because the benches hadn’t been warned. Alou wasn’t tossed that time.

Rodriguez was ejected in the eighth for hitting Eric Byrnes, who had already hit two three-run homers. Alou was then thrown out for arguing.

Reds put Casey on DL

Cincinnati put first baseman Sean Casey on the 15-day disabled list, giving one of the N.L.’s top hitters more time to recover from a strained right calf.

The move was made after Casey missed his sixth straight game Sunday, a 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians. The Reds plan to call up catcher Corky Miller from Triple-A Louisville today.

Clearing the bases

The Brewers placed second baseman Junior Spivey on the 15-day disabled list with a sore left shoulder and purchased former University of Washington outfielder Chris Magruder’s contract from Triple-A Indianapolis. … Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez will begin a rehab assignment today in Sacramento, just more than a month after he broke his right hand when hit by a pitch. … Padres slugger Phil Nevin left the game against Kansas City after injuring his right knee coming out of the batter’s box in the fourth inning. The team said Nevin has a possible cartilage tear.