Phillies Send Three Players To All-Star Game
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Philadelphia Phillies will send three players to this year's All-Star Game in Kansas City.
Carlos Ruiz, Cole Hamels and Jonathon Papelbon will help make up the National League roster at the Midsummer Classic on July 10th.
Ruiz was leading the Majors in batting average (.358) heading into Sunday's game against the Marlins. It is the first All-Star selection of his career.
"I still can't believe it," said Ruiz. "It's the first time. It definitely was an exciting day, and also for my family back home. I'm so happy to be there."
Hamels is 10-4 with a 3.08 ERA. He heads to the All-Star Game for a third time.
"It's a tremendous honor to be selected," said Hamels. "It's a hard game to play. It's hard to do well."
Papelbon is certainly no stranger to the All-Star Game either. He will be making his fifth appearance – the first, however, for the National League.
"Every time it's an honor to go out there and represent your team," Papelbon said. "None of them are taken lightly. And every time you have a chance to appear (in an All-Star Game), you want to do everything you can to make your team and city proud."
The selection of the Phillies' trio is one bright spot in what has otherwise been a disappointing first half of baseball for the team.
