AMERICAN LEAGUE

Blue Jays vs. Indians
Toronto: LHP David Wells isn't surprised by the Blue Jays' strong first half. "It's not one or two guys on this team," said Wells, selected to the AL All-Star team Wednesday along with Toronto 1B Carlos Delgado. "We're good enough to go all the way, it all depends on how our pitching holds up." ... Toronto's pitching staff entered Wednesday night leading the AL with nine complete games, but opponents are batting a league-high .290 against Blue Jays pitchers. ... The Blue Jays aren't all long ball. They lead the majors with 141 homers through Tuesday, but also are tops in the AL in hit batters and second in steals. Cleveland: RHP Charles Nagy is still experiencing pain and swelling in his right elbow after pitching and might take longer to get back, Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. Nagy had bone chips removed from his elbow in May, and has made three minor league rehab starts. Manuel expects Nagy to make a couple more starts in the minors. ... Manuel was pleased that both 3B Travis Fryman and LHP Chuck Finley were chosen as All-Stars. Finley made it despite being 7-5 with a 3.82 ERA. However, Finley is ranked second in strikeouts (109) and home ERA (2.29), fifth in innings pitched (115 1-3) and fourth in opponents batting average (.233). "He's pitched better than his record and I think he was a good choice," Manuel said. ... RF Manny Ramirez has not made plans to attend next week's All-Star game despite telling Manuel that he wanted to go. Ramirez has been sidelined since May 29 because of a strained left hamstring, which he aggravated during a minor league rehab stint. Manuel said he thinks Ramirez is being cautious with the injury. "It still hurts and he says it's not 100 percent," Manuel said.

Orioles vs. Yankees
Baltimore: C Charles Johnson wasn't angry about getting passed over for the All-Star team when Yankees manager Joe Torre picked his own Jorge Posada. "That's the way it should be. If he feels that Posada is having a good year, he should bring his own guy to the game." ... 2B Delino DeShields sat out his third straight game with a strained muscle in his right upper back. ... Jason Johnson (0-7) has been bumped from the starting rotation, and Jose Mercedes will pitch Sunday in Philadelphia. New York: SS Derek Jeter, C Jorge Posada and closer Mariano Rivera were picked by manager Joe Torre as All-Star reserves. "I'm more than excited," Posada said of his first All-Star appearance. "I couldn't sleep last night to tell you the truth." ... LHP Ed Yarnall, expected to win the No. 5 spot in the rotation in spring training, will make his first start of the season Thursday. Yarnall is 1-1 with a 5.31 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A Columbus. ... OF Shane Spencer did not start after banging his right knee against the wall Tuesday. ... OF Bernie Williams doubled in the second inning to extend his hitting streak to 15 games, longest on the team this season.

Tigers vs. Devil Rays
Detroit: RHP Todd Jones, who leads the AL with 24 saves, was selected to play in the All-Star game for the first time. It's especially satisfying to him because the game is being played in Atlanta, near his home in Marietta, Ga. "Guys like me don't have the chance to do something like this too often. I've dreamed about it all my life," he said. ... 1B Tony Clark, who sat out the entire Tampa Bay series because of back spasms, took batting practice and hopes to be back in the lineup Friday at Milwaukee. Tampa Bay: 1B Fred McGriff was selected for the All-Star game for the fifth time, first in the AL. It's his first selection since 1996 when he was with the Atlanta Braves. He's looking forward to the experience, but played down the significance of returning to Turner Field. "It just happens to be in Atlanta. That's all," he said. ... RHP Dave Eiland, out since late May with a pinched bursa sac in his left hip, pitched 6 1-3 innings in a rehab start for Double-A Orlando on Tuesday. He'll probably make at least one more minor league start before the Devil Rays considering activating him from the DL.

Red Sox vs. Twins
Boston: C Jason Varitek said he planned Thursday to meet up with his brother Justin, a rookie catcher for the Northern League's St. Paul Saints, who play across the Mississippi River at Midway Stadium. "We're real close," Jason Varitek said. Justin Varitek has played in eight games for the Saints, hitting .182 (4-for-22) with one RBI since being signed June 23. Jason Varitek is hitting .281 for the Red Sox. ... Manager Jimy Williams said C-1B Mike Stanley would return to Boston to have his shoulder evaluated. Williams said he was unsure exactly what was wrong with Stanley's shoulder. ... OF Trot Nixon, on the DL since June 27, won't be reactivated until after the All-Star break. Minnesota: The Twins, who have 11 doubles in two games, lead the majors with 177. ... Matt Lawton, Minnesota's lone representative on the All-Star team, is second in the league with 26 doubles. ... Manager Tom Kelly said, almost wistfully, that he was looking forward to a strong performance by starter Mark Redman. "Three days in a row, our starters went out real quick," Kelly said. The Twins needed five relievers Tuesday and four Monday. ... The Twins honored former Vikings long-snapper Mike Morris before the game. He "long-snapped" the first pitch.

White Sox vs. Royals
Chicago: The White Sox had three players selected for the All-Star Game next Tuesday in Atlanta. RHP James Baldwin, OF Magglio Ordonez and 2B Ray Durham were selected by AL manager Joe Torre. It is the first appearance for Baldwin and second for Ordonez and Durham. Each made the squad in 1999. ... The White Sox entered Wednesday 11 games ahead of last year's pace, and 22 games better in the standings. After 83 games in 1999, the White Sox stood 42-41, 12 games behind first place Cleveland. Their 53-30 mark left them 10 games in front of the Indians, the largest division lead in the majors. ... The White Sox have been in first place for 78 straight days since April 19. Kansas City: CF Carlos Beltran was placed on the 15-day DL Wednesday, retroactive to Tuesday. He has a bone bruise on his right knee. His spot on the roster was taken by pitcher Blake Stein, who has been on the DL all season with a fracture in his right forearm. Stein will make his season debut Friday in Houston. ... 1B Mike Sweeney joined OF Jermaine Dye as Royals' representatives at the All-Star Game. Dye was voted in as a starter. Sweeney was selected as a reserve by Torre. Both players will be making their All-Star debut. It is the first time since 1989 (OF Bo Jackson and P Mark Gubicza) that the Royals will have more than one representative on the All-Star squad. ... Rey Sanchez owns the club record for errorless games at shortstop. He played in his 57th game without a miscue Tuesday night.

Athletics vs. Rangers
Oakland: For the first time since 1992, the Athletics have three players on the AL All-Star team. Pitchers Tim Hudson (10-2, 4.18 ERA) and Jason Isringhausen (19 saves) were added to the squad Wednesday. 1B Jason Giambi became the first Oakland player selected by fans as an All-Star starter since Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco in 1992, when P Dennis Eckersley also represented the A's. ... Oakland has lost three straight series after winning eight consecutive. Texas: C Ivan Rodriguez, the top vote-getter in fan voting, will be Texas' only player going to Atlanta next week for the All-Star game. "There are deserving people left off of our team, but that's the nature of the system. Everybody can't make the All-Star team," manager Johnny Oates said. Rodriguez (.361, 25 home runs and 74 RBI) will start his eighth straight All-Star game. Oates said he was disappointed that 1B Rafael Palmeiro (.291, 22, 65), DH David Segui (.336, 8, 48), 2B Luis Alicea (.314) and closer John Wetteland (21 saves) were left off. ... SS Royce Clayton said he could return to the lineup Friday, but Oates said that likely won't happen until after the All-Star break _ or until a doctor clears Clayton to play. Clayton has been out since Sunday with a strained oblique muscle in his left side.

Mariners vs. Angels
Seattle: Aaron Sele is the first right-hander in the Mariners' 24-year history to be selected for the All-Star Game. Rick Honeycutt, Floyd Bannister, Matt Young, Mark Langston and Randy Johnson were all lefties. The last Seattle pitcher, other than Johnson, to be picked for an All-Star Game was Langston in 1987. "I think he's throwing the ball better than he has in quite some time, and it's nice that he's being recognized for it," Mariners catcher Joe Oliver said. ... Edgar Martinez is going to the All-Star Game for the fifth time in his career and first since 1997, when he homered off Greg Maddux at Cleveland. ... On a staff that lost four members of its rotation for no fewer than two weeks each because of injuries and was forced to use eight different starters, Sele is leading the Mariners in victories, strikeouts and innings pitched. "All the goals I've set are team-oriented goals," he said. "Personal things like All-Star Games, especially for a pitcher, really come down to the team's results -- because a pitcher can only do so much, and the rest of the team does all the work behind you." Angels: Troy Glaus and Darin Erstad are only the second pair of position players to represent the Angels in an All-Star game since 1983 -- and first since 1995, when shortstop Gary DiSarcina and center fielder Jim Edmonds were selected. "I'm going to have some fun and try to get some rest," Erstad said. "I'll just try to take good swings in batting practice while I'm there, have good at-bats in the game and try and keep that same focus that I've had so far this year." ... The Angels have rallied for 20 of their 43 victories, including 12 in their final at-bat. ... Ten of Garret Anderson's last 23 hits have been home runs.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Pirates vs. Cubs
Pittsburgh: C Jason Kendall and OF Brian Giles were chosen as reserves to the NL All-Star team. This is the first time the Pirates have had more than one representative since 1993 when Jay Bell and Andy Van Slyke made the team. "As a kid, I couldn't wait for the All-Star Game," Kendall said. "It's definitely a thrill. It's something you can lock away and tell your grandkids about." Kendall has gone twice as the Pirates' lone representative. Giles was happier for Kendall, who missed so many games last season because of his ankle, dislocated on July 4, 1999, but Kendall downplayed it. "There are worse things in the world than a dislocated ankle," Kendall said. "Andres Galarraga, that's a comeback story. It was life and death there." Said Giles: "I think I'm happier for Jason after seeing all he went through to come back. To do what he has done is unbelievable." Giles said he'll enjoy it. "Obviously, it's an honor," he said. "I don't know if it's my time to shine. I'll go down to Atlanta and hang out with the best players in the game. I'm excited about it."... Starter Kris Benson was scratched from Wednesday's game because of the flu and will likely start Saturday against Minnesota. Benson ranks sixth in the NL with a 3.19 ERA. ... Right-hander Francisco Cordova might undergo an MRI on his right elbow and it was unclear when he would make his next start. Cordova had to leave Monday's game because of tendinitis and his status was day-to-day. Chicago: Left-handers Felix Heredia and Daniel Garibay continue to struggle against left-handed hitters, and manager Don Baylor said he will rely on his right-handed relievers more. "I've had many sleepless nights thinking about the baseball thing to do, the right thing to do," Baylor said. "Sometimes you have to go with the personnel more than anything else."... The Cubs are thinking about the future. Baylor said he'd like to see what OF Corey Patterson can do in the big leagues in the second half. Patterson, the Cubs' No. 1 draft pick in 1998, was batting .249 in 75 games at Double-A West Tenn. Baylor, who lobbied to have Patterson in the big league camp this spring, said he'd probably play the left-handed hitter three or four times a week and have him bat second. ... C Joe Girardi was happy to see his former teammate, Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, make the All-Star team. "He deserves it," Girardi said. "That's the reason I'm not there."

Reds vs. Cardinals
Cincinnati: The Reds and Padres are the only pitching staffs in the majors without a complete game. Only the Expos starters threw fewer innings. ... The Reds' scheduled starter Thursday is Osvaldo Fernandez, who's 0-2 his last two outings and has allowed 12 earned runs in 7 1-3 innings. It'll be his first appearance against the Cardinals since Sept. 11, 1996, when he pitched for the Giants. ... Andy Larkin's four-inning relief outing Tuesday was the longest of his career. Scott Williamson threw a season high 3 1/3 innings after Ron Villone was knocked out in the first inning of a 14-3 loss. St. Louis: RHP Garrett Stephenson, who was home with the flu Wednesday, is scheduled to make his second straight start against the Reds on Thursday. He's 0-3 with a 4.93 ERA for his career against Cincinnati. ... Mark McGwire is the Busch Stadium career home run leader with 105 in 218 games. Ray Lankford is second with 103 in 671 games. ... Keith McDonald became the 79th player in major league history to homer in his first major league at-bat when he connected in a pinch-hit appearance in the eighth inning Tuesday. He's the third this year, joining Esteban Yan of Tampa Bay (June 4) and Alex Cabrera of Arizona (June 24). He's only the 13th player to homer in his first at-bat as a pinch-hitter. ... Six of the eight runs allowed by reliever Mike James in 19 innings have come on homers.

Mets vs. Marlins
New York: C Mike Piazza led all NL players with 2,780,452 votes for the third time in his career. It's his eighth All-Star selection. "I don't know what I did to deserve it," Piazza said. "Maybe I helped an old lady cross the street or something. It never gets old as long as I'm chosen to go, it's such a great perk and honor. It's the greatest thing about doing well." ... Piazza, whose 21-game hitting streak ended Tuesday in a pinch-hit appearance, is batting .357 with 24 home runs and 71 RBIs before Wednesday. "I can't explain how weird that is for me," Piazza said of being the No. 1 vote-getter. "I'm completely flattered. It's a tremendous honor." ... Mets LHP Al Leiter was chosen NL Pitcher of the Month for the second straight June. Leiter went 4-0 with a 2.38 ERA in 34 innings. Florida: The Marlins' only All-Star representative will be RHP Ryan Dempster, who was picked by Atlanta manager Bobby Cox. Dempster, 23, is 9-4 with a 3.39 ERA. He ranks fourth in the NL in strikeouts (109), eighth in ERA and 10th in opponents batting average (.241). "I don't know what to say except that I'll be soaking it all in, grabbing my camcorder and camera," he said. "You want to go to as many as you can, but you never know in this game. You could get traded to Atlanta and be behind Maddux and Glavine and it would be pretty hard to go." ... The Marlins are 12-5 in Dempster's 17 starts this season, his third. He was 7-8 last year. ... Antonio Alfonseca leads the majors with 26 saves in 29 opportunities to go with a 3-4 record and 4.87 ERA. "I'm disappointed about Antonio," manager John Boles said. "We believe in Antonio. No matter how bleak it looks we feel Antonio will do it for us. He's done it 26 times."

Expos vs. Braves
Montreal: For the first time since 1996, the Expos will have more than one representative at the All-Star game. OF Vladimir Guerrero and 2B Jose Vidro were selected as reserves Wednesday for next Tuesday's game in Atlanta. It is Guerrero's second All-Star game. He was Montreal's only representative a year ago, while Vidro is making his first appearance. ... Starter Carl Pavano, on the DL since June 27 with tendinitis in his elbow, received a cortisone injection and will not throw for 10 days. ... Expos closer Ugueth Urbina is scheduled for surgery Thursday at Birmingham, Ala., to remove a bone chip in his right elbow. Atlanta: Reliever Kevin McGlinchy, on the 15-day DL for the second time this season, the latest since May 24 with a sore right shoulder, is heading to Triple-A Richmond for a rehab assignment. McGlinchy said he will pitch an inning Thursday and again on Sunday, and will remain with the International League club until after the All-Star break.

Phillies vs. Brewers
Philadelphia: C Mike Lieberthal makes his second straight appearance as the club's representative to the All-Star game. He is the ninth Phillies catcher to make the team, but just the fourth to make it in consecutive seasons. He joins Darren Daulton (92-93, 95), Bob Boone (76, 78-79) and Stan Lopata (55-56). ... The Phillies have won their last five series and could make it six straight and their first at County Stadium with a victory in the final two games against the Brewers. ... Jeff Brantley has converted his first 13 save opportunities, the longest stretch by a Phillies reliever to open a season since Ricky Bottalico began the 1996 season with 14 straight. Milwaukee: Closer Bob Wickman was added to the All-Star team. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA going into Wednesday. He has converted 11 of 14 save opportunities while appearing in 35 games. ... Wendy Felber of Milwaukee became the 64 millionth fan to pass through the turnstiles in the combined history of the Milwaukee Braves and Milwaukee Brewers. ... Geoff Jenkins and Jeromy Burnitz have seven outfield assists, second best in the NL, tied with Ken Griffey Jr. and Steve Finley. Pittsburgh's Brian Giles leads with 11.

Rockies vs. Giants
Colorado: OF Larry Walker, who missed Wednesday's game while resting his sore right elbow, is expected to return Thursday in the series finale against the Giants. Walker also missed Monday's game, and left the latter half of Tuesday's day-night doubleheader in the fifth inning. ... Colorado reached the halfway point of the season with a 45-36 record. San Francisco: SS Rich Aurilia played in his 500th major league game Wednesday against the Rockies, celebrating the milestone with a decisive two-run homer in the seventh inning. In those 500 games, all with the Giants, he is hitting .269 with 49 homers and 214 RBIs. ... LF Barry Bonds, who has missed four straight games with a stress fracture in his right thumb, is not expected to try swinging a bat again until at least Thursday. But the Giants still hope he'll be available for this weekend's series at St. Louis.

Diamondbacks vs. Astros
Arizona: The Diamondbacks assured themselves of winning the season series against the Astros with Tuesday night's victory that left them 4-1 against Houston. The two teams play all seven games of the series within an 11-day span. ... 2B Jay Bell had only eight hits in 29 at-bats before Wednesday's game, but five have been for extra bases (three doubles, triple, home run). Houston: C Mitch Meluskey apparently had a verbal altercation with a number of fans after Tuesday's 10-4 loss to Arizona. The rookie sharply denied an autograph and the discussion escalated before Meluskey walked away. "That has been brought to my attention," GM Gerry Hunsicker said. "It sounds like an unfortunate situation, and I intend to talk to Mitch about it." ... RHP Jose Lima lasted 2 2-3 innings Tuesday, allowing seven runs in the third. With speculation that he might be relegated to the bullpen, he had a 20-minute meeting Wednesday with manager Larry Dierker and pitching coach Burt Hooton. "I know I lost my composure last night," Lima said. "But they told me they still believe in me and they're not going to mess with me."

Dodgers vs. Padres
Los Angeles: RHP Kevin Brown and OF Gary Sheffield were added to the All-Star team. The two have been All-Stars with the same three NL clubs -- LA, San Diego and Florida. Brown also made the AL team with Texas. ... Sheffield is the first Dodgers OF to be selected to the All-Star team for three straight years since Duke Snider was picked for seven straight (1955-56). ... The game will be played in Atlanta, Brown's home state. "It'll be a little special this year with my family being able to go to Atlanta," Brown said. "It will be a chance for a lot of the family to come who wouldn't be able to come out otherwise." ... Brown was scheduled to start Tuesday night, but was pushed back to Wednesday due to a strained back. ... The Dodgers purchased the contract of OF Mike Metcalfe from Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League and designated OF Shawn Gilbert for assignment. San Diego: Padres closer Trevor Hoffman is the Padres' lone All-Star, making his third straight appearance. He has 21 saves, a 1-3 record and a 3.31 ERA in 35 appearances. With his next save, Hoffman will become the 17th big leaguer to record 250. ... OF Eric Owens, the Padres' leadoff hitter, missed his second straight game due to a sore right hand.