Marmol replaces Wood, Cubs tie mark at 8 All-Stars

[July 14, 2008]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The Chicago Cubs tied the National League record for most players on an All-Star team when Carlos Marmol was selected Sunday to replace teammate Kerry Wood, becoming the eighth player picked for the team.

Marmol was chosen because he was the reliever with the highest vote on the player ballot. He is the only pitcher in the game who isn't a starter or a closer.

His selection was announced one day after he wasted a 7-2 lead at Wrigley Field against San Francisco in a game the Cubs went on to win 8-7 in 11 innings.

Marmol, booed when he left the mound Saturday, is 2-3 with a 4.13 ERA and three saves. He had a 1.69 ERA in April and 1.93 in May, but it was 7.36 in June and 13.50 in July.

The NL record was set by the 1943 St. Louis Cardinals, and equaled by the 1956 Cincinnati Reds and 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates. Before this year, the most All-Stars for the Cubs was six in 1936 and 1988. The 1958 Yankees hold the major league mark with nine players on an All-Star team.

Outfielder Alfonso Soriano (broken hand), who was voted to the NL starting lineup, will miss the game because of a broken hand.

[Associated Press]

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