Verlander returns to All-Star Game

The All-Star Game rosters have a distinct Virginia feel.

Former Goochland High School star Justin Verlander was a players' selection in results released yesterday by Major League Baseball.

Verlander is 8-4 with a 3.54 ERA and an American League-leading 130 strikeouts for the Detroit Tigers, who lead the AL Central by 2½ games. Verlander, rebounding from a mediocre 2008, will make his second appearance in the Midsummer Classic. He allowed one run on two hits in one inning in the 2007 game, won 5-4 by the AL in San Francisco.

New York third baseman David Wright (Chesapeake), hitting .329 with 20 stolen bases, was voted in by fans and will start. He's one of a National League-high four Mets named to the team.

Washington third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (U.Va., Chesapeake) and Arizona outfielder Justin Upton (Chesapeake), a former No. 1 overall draft pick, were players' selections for the NL.

"I think there's three or four guys who deserve it on our team," said Zimmerman, who's batting .293 with 13 homers and 47 RBI. He had a major league-high 30-game hitting streak earlier this season.

Detroit third baseman Brandon Inge (VCU, Lynchburg), who has 18 home runs, and Arizona third baseman Mark Reynolds (U.Va.), who has 24 home runs, 61 RBI and 13 stolen bases, are in the running for AL and NL berths based on Internet voting.

The Midsummer Classic will feature something old and something new. Albert Pujols will be in a familiar spot when St. Louis hosts the 80th edition of the event July 14. It will be a new sensation for Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

Pujols was the leading vote-getter in balloting, giving the Cardinals first baseman the start in his home ballpark.

The NL MVP is well on his way to another amazing year, leading the majors with 31 homers and 82 RBI. It's his eighth all-star selection in nine seasons and fifth start.

Wakefield, 42, made his first all-Star roster in his 17th season, one of a major league-high six Red Sox headed to Busch Stadium. The Right-hander is tied for the big-league lead with 10 wins.

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was the leading vote-getter in the AL and will make his 10th appearance for the AL all-stars and sixth start. Jeter and the AL beat the National League 4-3 in 15 innings at Yankee Stadium last season to improve to 11-0-1 since the NL last won in 1996 at Philadelphia's old Veterans Stadium, the longest unbeaten streak in the game's history.

Texas slugger Josh Hamilton held onto his starting spot for the AL despite being on the disabled list for much of the first half with an abdominal injury. He said he would play in the game if elected, but he will not participate in the Home Run Derby.