The All-Star game selections were announced earlier on Sunday afternoon prior to the start of the Cardinals 5 to 4 win over the Pirates, and four of the defending-champions' were selected.
The four St. Louis Cardinals that were selected to represent the National League in the annual battle for home-field in the 'Fall Classic', were Carlos Beltran, Rafael Furcal, Yadier Molina, and also Lance Lynn.
The selection was the fifth time for Beltran, and the third for Furcal, who will both be the lone starters for the defending champs. Furcal will be starting the game at shortstop while Beltran will be starting in left field.
Molina, who recieved the most votes out of the four teammates selected, will be making his fourth appearance in an All-Star Game. Sensationally, Lance Lynn was selected for his first time of his career--and deservingly so. Lynn has won ten games up to this point and will have one more start this week against the Rockies before next weeks showdown in Kansas City.
Beltran made a strong case to be a starter--and the fans certainly have taken notice of what the guy has come back to do so far. Heading into Monday nights game against Colorado, Carlos is leading the National League in RBIs with 61 and is one home run behind the reigning MVP and division-rival Brewers' Ryan Braun for the lead in home runs. Also, Beltran is in the top 10 in the National League at. 310 overall.
Despite last seasons heroic October performances, and a World Series MVP award, David Freese hasn't been selected to his first All-Star Game of his career--or well, for the moment anyways, he hasn't.
Freese was chosen as one of the five final finalists from the entire National League to be determined by a fan vote. Joining Freese in the voting are the likes of the soon to be retiring Chipper Jones, Bryce Harper, Aaron Hill, and Michael Bourn.
The voting ends on Thursday afternoon at 3pm central time. The All-Star game will be played in Kansas City, Missouri inside Kauffman Stadium--home of the Kansas City Royals--which takes place on Tuesday July 10th at 7:30 pm St. Louis time, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 6:30 pm St. Louis time.
Also in the news for Cardinal Nation, the Home Run Derby committee selected Carlos Beltran to be a participant in the special and traditonal event on Monday, July 9th--which always happens the day before the actual All-Star game. Joining Beltran in the Statefarm Classic will be the likes of Matt Kemp, Carlos Gonzalez, and Giancarlo Stanton for the National League side--and for the American League side, Robinson Cano was named the captain and will announce his teammates on Monday afternoon.
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