2011 MLB All-Star Game: C.J. Wilson Picks Up The Loss

Ron Washington led five Texas Rangers to Arizona to comete in Tuesday's 2011 MLB All-Star Game, and they had varying levels of success. Let's run them down.

C.J. Wilson pitched a full inning for the A.L., giving up what would prove to be the game-winning three run home run from Prince Fielder. He was credited with the loss.

Alexi Ogando pitched a perfect two thirds of an inning. Seriously, he only needed 6 pitches.

Josh Hamilton started in left field and went 1-2 at the plate.

Adrian Beltre started at third base and had the same line.

Michael Young pitch hit late, but failed to reach base in his only plate appearance.

Ron Washingon's team gets the loss, so I guess we'll reflect that negatively on him as well.

All in all, not a great showing for the Rangers All-Stars, but it could have been much worse, I suppose. On to the second half of the season!

Alexi Ogando Added As American League All-Star

Alexi Ogando is an All-Star after all. A June fade that included his only three outings of the season less than six innings long appeared to cost him a birth in his first full season in the major leagues, but Ogando rebounded with two strong April starts and saw Justin Verlander and C.C. Sabathia become ineligible by pitching on Sunday.

Ogando has been a revelation for the Rangers this season. Pitching as a true starter for the first time since arriving back in the U.S., he’s thrown 104.2 innings and allowed 83 hits and 23 walks while striking out 78. The nine home runs he’s allowed represent the only thing even approaching a weakness in his game. His 2.92 ERA led Rangers starters and is ninth in the AL. He and fellow all-star C.J. Wilson lead Texas with nine wins.

Ogando adds a unique element to the AL team because he has spent most of his pitching career as a reliever. Last season in his MLB debut he threw 41.2 innings out of the pen in 2010 with a 1.30 ERA.

Michael Young, Adrian Beltre, C.J. Wilson Selected To Join Josh Hamilton At MLB All-Star Game

Fans have voted Josh Hamilton to start in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 12 in Phoenix. Hamilton was voted as one of the starting outfielders, along with Jose Bautista and Curtis Granderson and infielders Adrian Gonzalez, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. Alex Avila will catch, and David Ortiz will DH for the AL. 

Three other Rangers - Michael Young, Adrian Beltre and C.J. Wilson - will join Hamilton at the game. Young will be considered a DH, but could offer manager Ron Washington some extra versatility since he can play all four infield spots. 

Wilson was chosen over teammate Alexi Ogando, presumably because he pitched more innings (117 to 97). Both pitchers have 8-3 records, but Ogando had a lower ERA and allowed many fewer baserunners on a per-inning basis. The Rangers also likely preferred that Ogando not make the team, since the club is looking to spare him innings however possible. 

The National League starting lineup has a fresher look than the AL, with Brian McCann at catcher, Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Jose Reyes and Placido Polanco around the infield, and Ryan Braun, Lance Berkman and Matt Kemp in the outfield. Check out the full rosters on MLB.com.