N.L. Lineup: Renteria, Pujols At Top; Rolen Cleanup
Associated Press
July 12, 2004
HOUSTON -- Roger Clemens pitching to his nemesis, Mike Piazza, will be a hot story angle for Tuesday night's All-Star Game.
But in St. Louis and throughout Cardinal Nation, the focus will be on the National League's batting order and its heavy birds-on-the-bat flavor.
Cardinals shortstop Edgar Renteria will lead off for the N.L., followed by teammate and first baseman Albert Pujols.
Cards third baseman Scott Rolen, who leads the major leagues with 80 RBIs, will bat cleanup for the Nationals.
Clemens, 10-3 with a 2.62 ERA for his hometown Houston Astros, was selected to start by NL manager Jack McKeon of the Florida Marlins. Oakland's Mark Mulder was picked to start by AL manager Joe Torre of the New York Yankees.
Then with the New York Yankees, Clemens beaned Piazza in July 2000. In Game 2 of the World Series that October, he threw the jagged barrel of a shattered bat in the direction of Piazza, earning a $50,000 fine.
While the pair aren't warm to each other, they repeatedly have said they didn't foresee a problem working with each other.
"I'm glad I'm throwing to him and I don't have to face him," Clemens said today. "It's not that big a deal. It's not an issue,"
Mulder, overshadowed by Clemens, is tied with Texas' Kenny Rogers for the major league lead with 12 wins, going 12-2 with a 3.21 ERA.
Here are the starting lineups:
NATIONAL
1. Edgar Renteria, Cardinals . . . SS
2. Albert Pujols, Cardinals . . . 1B
3. Barry Bonds, San Francisco . . . LF
4. Scott Rolen, Cardinals . . . 3B
5. Sammy Sosa, Chicago . . . RF
6. Mike Piazza, New York . . . C
7. Lance Berkman, Houston . . . CF
8. Jeff Kent, Houston . . . 2B
9. Roger Clemens, Houston . . . P
AMERICAN
1. Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle . . . CF
2. Ivan Rodriguez, Detroit . . . C
3. Vladimir Guerrero, Anaheim . . . RF
4. Manny Ramirez, Boston . . . LF
5. Alex Rodriguez, New York . . . 3B
6. Jason Giambi, New York . . . 1B
7. Derek Jeter, New York . . . SS
8. Alfonso Soriano, Texas . . . 2B
9. Mark Mulder, Oakland . . . P
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