7 Cubs, 7 Red Sox on all-star teams

NEW YORK, July 6 (UPI) -- The Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs each placed seven players on the 2008 all-star roster announced Sunday by Major League Baseball.

The American and National League teams will compete in baseball's 79th annual All-Star Game July 15 at Yankee Stadium.

American League starters: First base, Kevin Youkilis, Boston; second base, Dustin Pedroia, Boston; shortstop, Derek Jeter, New York; third base, Alex Rodriguez, New York; catcher, Joe Mauer, Minnesota; outfield, Manny Ramirez, Boston; Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle, and Josh Hamilton, Texas.

National League starters: First base, Lance Berkman, Houston; second base, Chase Utley, Philadelphia; shortstop, Hanley Ramirez, Florida; third base, Chipper Jones, Atlanta; catcher, Geovany Soto, Chicago; outfield, Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome, Chicago, and Ryan Braun, Milwaukee.

The other Cubs on the National League team are Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Dempster, Kerry Wood and Carlos Zambrano.

The other Boston players on the AL squad are David Ortiz, Jonathan Papelbon, Jason Varitek and J.D Drew.

The AL pitching staff includes starters Roy Halladay of Toronto, Cliff Lee of Cleveland, Justin Duchscherer of Oakland, Scott Kazmir of Tampa Bay and Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana of the Los Angeles Angels.

The NL staff includes starters Zambrano and Ryan Dempster of Chicago, Dan Haren and Brandon Webb of Arizona, Edinson Volquez of Cincinnati, Tim Lincecum of San Francisco and Ben Sheets of Milwaukee.

Terry Francona of Boston is the American League manager; Clint Hurdle of Colorado heads the NL team.