Tyler Clippard named to National League All-Star squad

Washington Nationals right-handed reliever Tyler Clippard today was named to the National League All-Star team by Cardinals field manager Mike Matheny and Major League Baseball. Clippard will replace Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran, who started Sunday's contest at Chicago. The 85th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN on Tuesday, July 15. Clippard, 29, is 6-2 with one save and a 2.03 ERA (9 ER/40.0 IP) in 43 appearances for Washington. He leads the Nationals bullpen and ranks among National League relief leaders in wins (tied for 2nd in NL), holds (4th, 10) and strikeouts (8th, 53). He has allowed an earned run in just two of his last 36 appearances since April 15 and owns the longest scoreless inning streak of any Nationals reliever and fourth-longest by a National League reliever this season (19.2 IP, 4/24-6/11). Since his bullpen debut on June 25, 2009, Clippard paces Major League Baseball in relief strikeouts (493) and has pitched in more games (382) than any pitcher in Nationals history (2005-present). This All-star citation is the second of Clippard's career. He was selected by Giants field manager Bruce Bochy to participate in the 2011 All-Star Game at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, where he earned the win for the National League squad.