Pujols leads NL All-Star voting

NEW YORK, June 1 (UPI) -- St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols led the National League All-Star Game balloting released Wednesday.

Pujols is batting .323 with a dozen home runs and 42 RBI this season. He has received 570,004 votes thus far and is the runaway leader among first baseman.

Cincinnati's Ken Griffey, Jr., who has played in 12 All-Star Games, was third among outfielders with 261,554 votes. Only Cal Ripken, Jr. (With 17) and Rod Carew (15) have been voted an All-Star starter more times than Griffey.

Leaders among the other position players through the first balloting period were New York catcher Mike Piazza (447,259), Los Angeles second baseman Jeff Kent (371,947), Chicago shortstop Nomar Garciaparra (235,899), St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen (404,004) and outfielders Carlos Beltran (527,433) of the Mets and Jim Edmonds (402,419) of the Cardinals.