ANAHEIM, Calif. | Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez will start for the National League in the All-Star game while the AL will counter with Tampa Bay’s David Price. In this year of the pitcher, Jimenez was a fitting pick by Phillies manager Charlie Manuel on Monday. “One of the great talents in baseball and he’s a treat to watch pitch,” Manuel said of choosing Jimenez over Florida’s Josh Johnson. “This guy’s 15-1. His record speaks for itself.” The NL will try Tuesday night at Angel Stadium to end a 13-year drought in baseball’s midsummer classic. Jimenez has a 2.20 ERA in 18 starts and 127 innings for the surging Rockies. Price is 12-4 with a 2.42 ERA. Johnson is 9-3 with a majors-best 1.70 ERA for the Marlins. “It’s just a huge honor for me to be out here,” Jimenez said. “Hopefully we can put everything together and break the losing streak.” Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard will be the National League designated hitter and bat cleanup for his regular skipper, Manuel. “Not only is he my guy, he’s got 119 at-bats against left-handed pitchers and 65 RBIs,” Manuel said. “He can hit ’em. He’s hitting .294. He’s very capable of hitting fourth in an All-Star lineup.” There was some confusion, however, about Boston third baseman Adrian Beltre. AL manager Joe Girardi announced that Texas third baseman Michael Young would replace Beltre, who left Sunday’s game at Toronto with a strained left hamstring. But less than an hour later, Beltre said he planned to play. MLB executive Phyllis Merhige said an announcement about Beltre’s status was made prematurely. He planned to test his leg at the ballpark before making a final decision. “They announced it without telling me,” Beltre said. “I’m think I’m going to play and I’m going to be on the active roster.”
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