LOCALS IN THE PROS: Wagner selected to All-Star Team

From Staff and Wire Reports

NEW YORK — Billy Wagner is a National League All-Star for the fifth time.

The former Tazewell High School star and current New York Mets closer was selected to the All-Star game on Sunday afternoon, being picked to the NL team by St. Louis Cardinals and National League manager Tony La Russa.

The All-Star game will be played on July 10 in San Francisco.

This is Wagner’s first All-Star game appearance as a member of the Mets. He represented the Houston Astros in the 1999, 2001 and 2003 events and suited up as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2005 midsummer classic.

The 35-year-old Wagner is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his professional career. The left-hander is 1-0 with a 1.73 ERA and has converted 16 of 17 save opportunities. Wagner has struck out 49 in 36 1/3 innings of work and opponents are hitting just .183 against him.

Wagner saw action in three of his four previous All-Star game selections and is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA.

Houston Astros outfielder Carlos Lee was named to his third All-Star team. Lee actually played for the Appalachian League’s Bristol White Sox in the summer of 1995. He hit .346 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs in his 67-game stint in Bristol.

The 31-year-old Lee is currently hitting .293 with 15 homers and 68 RBIs for Houston.

Gobble tosses inning for Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jon Garland, aided by Paul Konerko’s 15th home run, maintained his mastery over Kansas City on Sunday and led the Chicago White Sox past the Royals 3-1.

Former Bristol White Sox standout Andy Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with a RBI for Chicago. The rookie outfielder raised his batting average to .242.

Bristol native Jimmy Gobble made his 40th relief outing of the season for Kansas City, but did not factor in the decision. Gobble, who tossed a shutout inning against the White Sox on Saturday night, allowed one run in his inning of work.

Gobble (3-1, 2.86 ERA) yielded Konerko’s home run to lead off the fifth inning. He did strike out Jim Thome and A.J. Pierzynski to raise his career strikeout total to 220. It was Gobble’s 162nd career major league appearance.