Star-studded lineups and pitching matchups set for All-Star Game

MIDSUMMER CLASSIC

Star-studded lineups and pitching matchups set for All-Star Game
Yordan Alvarez is hitting fifth for the American League. Composite Getty Image.

Baltimore's Corbin Burnes will start for the American League in Tuesday night's All-Star Game against Pittsburgh rookie Paul Skenes.

A 29-year-old right-hander, Burnes is 9-4 with a 2.93 ERA in his first season with the Orioles, who acquired him from Milwaukee just before spring training. The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner, Burnes is an All-Star for the fourth straight season. He will become the fifth Orioles pitcher to start an All-Star Game, the first since Steve Stone in 1980.

Skenes, who made his major league debut on May 11, is 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA in 11 starts, striking out 89 and walking 13 in 66 1/3 innings. The 11 starts for the 21-year-old right-hander will be the fewest for an All-Star and he will become the fifth rookie starter after Dave Stenhouse (1962), Mark Fidrych (1976), Fernando Valenzuela (1981) and Hideo Nomo (1995).

NL manager Torey Lovullo announced last week he was starting Skenes.

AL manager Bruce Bochy of World Series champion Texas said Monday he has Steven Kwan of Cleveland hitting leadoff and playing left field, followed by Baltimore shortstop Gunnar Henderson, New York Yankees right fielder Juan Soto and center fielder Aaron Judge, Houston designed hitter Yordan Alvarez, Guardians shortstop José Ramírez, Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman and Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien.

Ketel Marte bats first and plays second base for the NL, followed by Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, Philadelphia shortstop Trea Turner, Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, Milwaukee catcher William Contreras, Brewers right fielder Christian Yelich, Phillies third baseman Alex Bohm, Dodgers center fielder Teoscar Hernández and San Diego left fielder Jurickson Profar.

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Rockets beat the Spurs, 118-106. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Amen Thompson had 25 points and eight rebounds, Jalen Green added 21 points and seven rebounds and the Houston Rockets beat the San Antonio Spurs 118-106 on Wednesday night.

Green scored 16 points in the first half to help Houston take a 64-46 lead. Thompson was ejected Tuesday night against Milwaukee for pulling down Giannis Antetokounmpo by the head and neck.

Dillon Brooks had 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range for Houston. The Rockets have won three of four since the All-Star break.

Keldon Johnson scored 22 points, and Stephon Castle added 22 points and seven rebounds for San Antonio. The Spurs have lost four straight.

De’Aaron Fox had seven points on 3-of-12 shooting for Spurs. Jeremy Sochan scored seven points but did not play in the second half for precautionary reasons after getting hit in the head.

Takeaways

Spurs: San Antonio got most of its production out of its bench, with the backups scoring 79 points and the starters 27 on 11-of-35 shooting.

Rockets: Houston has outrebounded its opponents by at least 13 in each of its three wins since the All-Star break. The Rockets had a 60-41 edge over the Spurs.

Key moment

The Rockets took a 23-7 lead on a dunk by Alperen Sengun midway through the first quarter. The advantage never dipped below double-figures the rest of the way.

Key stat

Houston shot 11 of 38 on 3-pointers. San Antonio was 7 of 39.

Up next

Both teams are back in action Saturday night. The Spurs are at Memphis, and the Rockets host Sacramento.

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