NEW YORK — Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets were picked as the starting pitchers for Tuesday night’s All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.
Lee is 12-2 with a 2.31 ERA, a remarkable resurgence after the left-hander was demoted to the minors last season. He was chosen by American League manager Terry Francona of Boston.
“I’m just honored to be here, to be honest with you,” Lee said Monday. “To get the start is just icing on the cake. … I’m kind of awe-struck by it.”
NL manager Clint Hurdle of Colorado tabbed Sheets, who is 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA. Several other National League All-Stars pitched Sunday, making the well-rested Sheets a logical choice.
“I’ve never been to Yankee Stadium so I’m going to try to take it all in and just enjoy myself,” Sheets said.
Both managers announced their lineups Monday in the same Manhattan ballroom where the Mitchell Report on drugs in baseball was released seven months before.
Seattle right fielder Ichiro Suzuki will bat leadoff for the AL, followed by Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, Texas center fielder Josh Hamilton, New York third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez, Rangers designated hitter Milton Bradley, Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis, Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer and Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
Francona kept more than numbers in mind when putting together his batting order.
“To me, Derek Jeter deserves to hit second in a lineup like this, especially in this place,” he said.
The manager also acknowledged he thought about whether to honor Yankees closer Mariano Rivera with the start in his home ballpark — but only because Francona was asked about it by reporters.
“Mariano Rivera may be the greatest reliever of all-time, but he’s not a starter,” Francona said. “We will treat every player in this game with a lot of respect, certainly knowing that there are Yankees in this game — but other than that I think doing it correctly.”
Francona wouldn’t commit to calling on Rivera to close out a ninth-inning lead, saying he didn’t want to divulge his plans.
“I’m going to stick my neck out and say we’ll prepare from him,” Hurdle said.
Hurdle put Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez at the top of his order, followed by Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, Houston first baseman Lance Berkman, St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols at designated hitter, Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones, Colorado’s Matt Holliday in right field, Milwaukee left fielder Ryan Braun, Chicago’s Kosuke Fukudome in center and Cubs rookie catcher Geovany Soto.
“That’s the best lineup I’ve ever written on paper. We’ll see where it takes us,” Hurdle said.
Sheets is set to become the first Brewers pitcher to start an All-Star game — three days before his 30th birthday. His most recent outing was last Wednesday, when he struck out 11 batters in six innings of a loss to the Rockies.
“Caught my eye,” Hurdle said with a smile. “I’m kind of smart like that.”
Hurdle said he looked closest at the All-Star pitchers who were voted in by players when he was deciding which one would get the start.
That group included Sheets, Chicago’s Ryan Dempster, San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum, Cincinnati’s Edinson Volquez and Arizona’s Brandon Webb. Dempster, Lincecum and Webb all started Sunday, while Volquez earned his 12th win Saturday.
Sheets’ All-Star bonus doubled to $50,000 for being selected as the starting pitcher.
The 29-year-old Lee compiled a 0.67 ERA during his first seven starts. He was 18-5 in 2005 but went 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA last year, when he was optioned to the minors for more than a month.
“There’s a lot of pitchers having outstanding years,” Francona said, “and none measured up to Cliff.”
The last Indians pitcher to start an All-Star game was Charles Nagy in 1996 at Philadelphia — the last time the National League won.
“We will attempt and make every effort to put a foot down and stop this slide,” Hurdle said. “We’re not going to play for a tie.”
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