Sale, Rizzo Voted Into All-Star Game By Fans

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jul 11, 2014 4:30PM

In Chicago, we vote early and often, and for MLB's Final Vote that was perfectly legal. So it's no surprise that both the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo and Chris Sale of the White Sox were the two players voted into the All-Star game.

Chris Sale is having another spectacular season and should have been selected for the team when the rosters were announced. Despite missing five starts with an injury early in the season, Sale is 8-1 with a stellar 2.08 ERA and has struck out 102 batters in just 95 innings. He could have easily reached double digits in wins were it not for the Sox' bullpen blowing a number of outstanding Sale performances -- like Wednesday's 7-2/3 inning of one-run ball that resulted in a no-decision when the bullpen yielded four runs in the final two innings. Sale's election is the fourth time the White Sox have had the winning player in the 13-year history of the Final Vote, previously sending Scott Podsednik (2005), A.J. Pierzynski (2006) and Paul Konerko (2011).

First baseman Rizzo leads the Cubs with 20 home runs and has driven in 49 runs in his second full year as an every day player. Rizzo jumped into the lead in the fan vote on Wednesday after hitting his third homer in as many days, holding off Justin Morneau of the Colorado Rockies in a tight race.

Both players will now join the rosters of their respective leagues' All-Star teams for the game, which takes place on July 15 at Target Field in Minneapolis.