A.L. proves defense wins All-Star games

DETROIT – Looking as though they’ve been on the field together since spring training, players from the American and National leagues combined for an All-Star record five double plays in the A.L.’s 7-5 win Tuesday night.

“That shows that this is still a baseball game,” Texas first baseman Mark Teixeira said. “It’s not an exhibition game. We’re trying to turn double plays, and pitchers are trying to get big outs.”

The A.L. turned three double plays, tying an All-Star record. The first was started by a pair of Baltimore teammates and it was worthy of any highlight package.

After Bobby Abreu led off the game with a single, shortstop Miguel Tejada made a fancy flip to second baseman Brian Roberts on Carlos Beltran’s sharp grounder up the middle.

Tejada was named Most Valuable Player after hitting a homer and driving in two runs, but A.L. manager Terry Francona said he earned the award for his defense as much as his offense.

“I think the play he made in the first inning, to me that relaxes (Mark) Buehrle and the whole game changes on that,” Francona said. “That’s a heck of a play.”

Mr. Clemens’ neighborhood

Roger Clemens’ latest arrival to an All-Star game had to be unlike any other.

The seven-time Cy Young winner had a tiny puppy, dressed in a No. 22 jersey, and his two teenage sons – Koby and Kory – at his side. The dog, Chewy, was a gift from Koby’s girlfriend.

“I guess it’s trendy to have little dogs like this,” Clemens said.

The right-hander entered the game in the fifth, notably just after New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza was replaced, and pitched the game’s first 1-2-3 inning.

The 11-time All-Star – who had a long-running feud with Piazza – was excused from Monday’s news conference because he said he attended a charity golf outing.

“Being here was about the last place I thought I’d be,” said Clemens, who is 7-3 with a major league-best 1.48 ERA. “But I appreciate the guys voting me to the game.”

Clemens, who turns 43 next month, said N.L. teammates such as Florida’s Dontrelle Willis, 23, call him Mr. Clemens. Willis relieved him to start the sixth inning.

“They make me feel old,” he said. “It’s very special. The last two years are icing on the cake. It’s a thrill.”

Selig defends Bonds

Commissioner Bud Selig defended San Francisco’s Barry Bonds, who testified before a federal grand jury investigating illegal steroids distribution. Bonds, who has not been indicted, is 52 homers shy of Hank Aaron’s career record of 755 but has not played yet this season while recovering from knee surgery.

“Barry hasn’t been convicted of anything. It’s unfair at this point,” Selig said of those who criticize the outfielder. “The sport is having a great year. Has Barry’s absence helped or hurt? I don’t know, I really don’t know.”

Eckstein’s father ails

St. Louis shortstop David Eckstein said his father, Whitey, took a step toward recovering from complications from a kidney ailment.

“He came off the respirator a couple hours ago, and he’s stable,” Eckstein said in the afternoon. “But he’s still pretty out of it. I won’t have a chance to see him before I go back to work, but I’m getting updates.”

When Eckstein called his parents from San Francisco on Sunday, before flying to Detroit for his first All-Star game, his father answered the phone and said he couldn’t breathe.

Extra national anthem played

There were three national anthems played prior to the All-Star game.

In addition to “O, Canada” and “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “God Save the Queen,” the British anthem, was played following a moment of silence in memory of the victims of last week’s bombings in London.

Here and there

Each All-Star rode in a car along a red-carpeted road, tossing gifts to the crowd, in a scene that looked more like Hollywood than Motor City before entering the ballpark. “It was like going to the Oscars,” said Derrek Lee of the Chicago Cubs. Detroit catcher Ivan Rodriguez and manager Alan Trammell, an A.L. coach, drew the loudest ovations, while Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers heard a smattering of boos for his now infamous run-in with a cameraman. … ESPN’s telecast of the Home Run Derby on Monday night drew a 4.9 household rating and an average audience of 6.33 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Philadelphia’s Bobby Abreu smashed a record with 24 homers in the first round, then went on to beat Rodriguez in the finals. … Former slugger Cecil Fielder, who hit 51 homers for the Tigers in 1990, was asked if he could hit 50 at pitcher-friendly Comerica Park. “I could hit 50 anywhere,” he said. … Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Cesar Izturis couldn’t play in the All-Star game because of injury, but wanted to come anyway. “For all the fans that voted for me, when they call my name I’ll tip my hat, and they’ll see that I was here.”