Washington Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard named National League All-Star, 1B Michael Morse Part of '11 All-Star Game Final Vote

Washington Nationals right-handed middle reliever Tyler Clippard today was named a National League All-Star by Giants field manager Bruce Bochy and Major League Baseball. The 82nd Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Tuesday, July 12. Clippard is 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA in 37 appearances with the Nationals. The All-Star citation is the first of his career. Clippard leads MLB with 21 holds. The only other big league pitcher with as many as 18 holds is Rafael Betancourt (18) of the Rockies. During his stellar first-half effort, Clippard has struck out 57 in 46.0 innings. The 57 strikeouts rank second among MLB relief pitchers, and his 11.4 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched rank eighth among relievers to have amassed 35.0 or more innings. Since the beginning of last season, Clippard's 169 strikeouts and 44 holds rank second and fourth, respectively, among MLB relief pitchers. Clippard has thrown the most innings in a Nationals bullpen that currently ranks 10th in MLB, seventh in the NL, with a 3.29 ERA. Clippard is the second Nationals pitcher to earn an All-Star invite in as many seasons. Last season, Matt Capps and his 23 saves represented the Nationals in the Mid-Summer Classic. The 26 year-old Clippard was acquired by the Nationals on Dec. 5, 2007 in a deal that sent right-handed pitcher Jonathan Albaladejo to the Yankees. Clippard is 20-12 with 47 holds, one save and a 3.18 ERA in 164 career games spanning five big league seasons with Washington and New York (AL). Morse, 29, is batting .299 (75-for-251) with 15 doubles, 15 home runs and 46 RBI in 75 games this season with the Nationals. Morse began the season as Washington's Opening Day left fielder, but since becoming the Nationals regular first baseman on May 21, he is batting .325 (50-for-154) with 12 doubles, 13 home runs and 35 RBI in 39 games.