NEW YORK -- Third baseman Shea Hillenbrand of the Boston Red Sox and catcher Jorge Posada of the New York Yankees continue to hold narrow leads in balloting for the American League All-Star team announced Tuesday.

Hillenbrand, trying to become the first Boston player elected as a starter since Wade Boggs in 1992, had 481,048 votes to 439,806 for Robin Ventura of the Yankees.

Posada, trying to become the first Yankees catcher to start the All-Star game since Thurman Munson in 1976, holds a 34,235-vote lead over Texas' Ivan Rodriguez, 590,095 to 555,860. Rodriguez, the starter for nine straight years, has missed 47 games this season because of an injury.

Other AL position leaders are Yankees teammates Jason Giambi (670,953) and Alfonso Soriano (820,460) at first and second base; Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez (610,808); and outfielders Manny Ramirez of Boston (628,316), Torii Hunter of Minnesota (590,321) and Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle (1,240,076).

The All-Star starters will be announced Sunday and the game will be played on Tuesday, July 9 at Milwaukee.