Sports Desk

Baseball

Longoria and Hart Elected All-Stars

Evan Longoria had big plans for next week's All-Star break-- a trip to Las Vegas with some friends.

Tampa Bay's rookie third baseman ended up with an even better trip to New York for the last All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.

Longoria and Brewers outfielder Corey Hart were elected All-Stars by fans in Internet balloting that ended yesterday.

"I'm sure they'll find a way to get to the game now," Longoria said of his abandoned buddies.

Hart got the news from Brewers manager Ned Yost as he walked into the Miller Park interview room with his two young children after Milwaukee's win. A couple minutes into his news conference, about a dozen of his teammates rushed into the room and sprayed Hart and his children with beer, loudly cheering his first-time selection. Milwaukee supported the outfielder with its "I Hart New York" campaign, and Hart himself did several interviews a day to drum up support.

Rivera Unlikely To Start All-Star Game

Mariano Rivera is far more likely to close next week's All-Star game than to start it. American League manager Terry Francona didn't sound enamored of the idea that the Yankees closer should open the final All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.

"You are expected to take a starter because that's the rules you play under," Francona said yesterday. "We are going to have the starting pitcher be the person we believe deserves it the most."

Mariners Release Sexson

Richie Sexson was finally released yesterday by the Mariners after a slump that lasted for most of two seasons and made him a target of constant booing from frustrated Seattle fans. The Mariners would have loved to have been able to trade Sexson, but his $14 million salary this season made that nearly impossible. So now Seattle is eating the rest of that money in what may be the first of multiple moves to rid the team of underperforming veterans.