Melancon, Romo, Tillman Added To All-Star Rosters
NEW YORK (AP) — Pittsburgh pitcher Mark Melancon has been picked as a replacement for the NL All-Star team, giving the Pirates five players in the game for the first time since 1972.
NL manager Bruce Bochy also selected Sergio Romo, his San Francisco Giants closer, as a replacement pick Sunday. Pirates pitcher Jeff Locke and Washington Nationals pitcher Jordan ZImmermann, both on the original NL All-Star roster, are hurt and will miss Tuesday's game at Citi Field.
Baltimore pitcher Chris Tillman was picked by AL manager Jim Leyland of Detroit to replace Tigers ace Justin Verlander, who started Sunday. Under baseball's labor contract, pitchers who start on the Sunday before the All-Star game may opt not to participate. Verlander was the starter and loser of last year's All-Star game at Kansas City.
Other Pirates on the NL roster are third baseman Pedro Alvarez, center fielder Andrew McCutchen and closer Jason Grilli. In 1972, the defending World Series champions had Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Steve Blass, Al Oliver and Manny Sanguillen at the All-Star game at Atlanta.
There are a record 36 first-time All-Stars following the additions of Melancon, Romo and Tillman, one more than the previous mark set two years ago in Arizona.
Romo and Tillman earned $25,000 bonuses and Melancon $10,000.
More substitutions were expected later Sunday.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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