Matsui and Abreu going to Houston
New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui and Philadelphia’s Bobby Abreu earned the final spots on the All-Star teams in Internet fan voting completed Wednesday.
Matsui became the seventh member of the Yankees to make the 32-man A.L. squad. He has been an All-Star in both of his seasons since leaving Japan.
Matsui is batting .282 with 16 home runs and 54 RBIs.
“To be chosen as part of the All-Star game is one of the great achievements you can have as a player,” Matsui said through a translator earlier in the day.
Abreu made the All-Star team for the first time. The right fielder was batting .301 with 17 homers and 57 RBIs going into Wednesday night’s game against the New York Mets.
Matsui beat out Minnesota’s Lew Ford, Cleveland’s Travis Hafner, and Frank Thomas and Paul Konerko of the White Sox for the last spot.
Matsui joined New York teammates Gary Sheffield, Jason Giambi, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera and Tom Gordon on the A.L. team. Jeter, Giambi and Rodriguez were elected by fans to starting infield spots.
Abreu topped Arizona’s Steve Finley, Pittsburgh’s Jason Kendall, Florida’s Juan Pierre and the Cubs’ Aramis Ramirez for the final N.L. slot.
The All-Star game will be played July 13 at Houston.
Pudge peeved over ejection
Ivan Rodriguez felt badly for himself, his team and the people watching at home when he was ejected in the first inning of Detroit’s win over the New York Yankees.
“I don’t think it was acceptable,” the All-Star catcher said. “A lot of people want to see me on TV.”
Rodriguez was called out on strikes by plate umpire Angel Hernandez on a pitch at the knees from Brad Halsey and was visibly angered. After Rodriguez returned to the dugout, Hernandez glanced over, and said something. A few moments later, Hernandez ejected him.
“I didn’t do anything,” Rodriguez said. “I was just smiling in the dugout. Anybody can smile. The only thing I told him was the pitch was low. I said to him two times or maybe three that pitch is low, it is not a strike. Then I go back to the dugout, and he throws me out.”
Hernandez was not available to respond to Rodriguez’s postgame remarks.
After the ejection, Detroit manager Alan Trammell ran onto the field and also argued with Hernandez. Trammell also was tossed.
“To me, to run somebody in the first inning, I would hope they would use better judgment,” Trammell said.
Interleague play could get new look
Commissioner Bud Selig strongly indicates that the rules for interleague games will be reversed next season, with pitchers hitting in American League parks and teams using the DH in N.L. parks.
“Yes, we need to tweak that,” Selig says. “I think that’s reasonable.”
Mientkiewicz hurt in batting practice
Twins first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup after he sustained a bruised left wrist when a ball hit him during batting practice.
Mientkiewicz immediately left the field and went for X-rays, which were negative. Matthew LeCroy was inserted into the seventh spot as the designated hitter against the Royals, and Michael Cuddyer moved from DH to first base and from No. 7 to No. 8 in the order.
Mientkiewicz was near first base, taking grounders with LeCroy, when a sharp line drive hit by Luis Rivas struck him square on the wrist. Manager Ron Gardenhire said it was the same spot where Mientkiewicz had surgery to clean up loose cartilage after the 2003 season.
Clearing the bases
All-Star shortstop Jack Wilson of the Pirates was removed from the lineup against the Marlins because of an irritated left knee. Wilson is day to day. … Reds right fielder Ryan Freel left Wednesday’s game after he injured his left leg slamming into an unpadded section of the wall while chasing a foul ball.