Fans pick Pierzynski
White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski edged out Minnesota rookie pitcher Francisco Liriano for the final A.L. All-Star spot, while N.L. batting leader Nomar Garciaparra earned the last N.L. slot Thursday in fan voting on the Internet.
A.L. manager Ozzie Guillen will now have seven of his own Chicago players on the roster.
Pierzynski, a catalyst as the White Sox won the World Series last year, is hitting .326 with five home runs and 28 RBIs. Liriano also received strong support after going 9-1 with a 1.99 ERA.
Garciaparra tops the N.L. in hitting at .359, with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs. In his first year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he’s playing first base.
The All-Star game will take place Tuesday night in Pittsburgh. The final rosters were announced Sunday, save for the last two players to be picked in fan voting.
Pitcher arrested
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brian Shackelford was arrested early Thursday on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault.
The 29-year-old player was arrested shortly after midnight at Miller Park, where the Reds played the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night, police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said. She declined to provide details on the arrest other than to say it involved a woman Monday.Prosecutors have not issued any charges, though the investigation will continue. Shackelford was to be released from jail later Thursday.
The Reds optioned the pitcher to the minors and said they will not discuss the case because of pending legal proceedings.
Martinez to D.L.
All-Star ace Pedro Martinez was placed on the disabled list by the New York Mets on Thursday due to pain in his right hip.
Martinez missed his scheduled start on Monday and can now rest through the All-Star break.Martinez was chosen for the N.L. All-Star team but won’t take part in next week’s festivities in Pittsburgh, general manager Omar Minaya said. The move is retroactive to June 29, the day after the right-hander’s last start.
Clearing the bases
The Philadelphia Phillies activated right-hander Jon Lieber and signed first-round draft pick Kyle Drabek. … Aaron Guiel was added to the New York Yankees’ 25-man roster and started in right field against Cleveland. … The Boston Red Sox put Craig Shipley in charge of revamping their Latin American operations and signed right-hander Anthony Alvarado and third baseman Pedro Chourio from Venezuela and center fielder Engel Beltre, lefty Manuel Rivera and shortstop Oscar Tejada of the Dominican Republic.