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Lilly named to NL All Stars; Stolp wins

Mike Hackworth

(Updated: Thursday, July 09, 2009, 6:20 PM)

The Chicago Cubs left handed pitcher,Ted Lilly has been named to the pitching staff of the National League All-star team that will take the field next Tuesday in Busch Stadium in St. Louis. He will be the Chicago Cubs' lone representative one year after the team sent eight players to the All-Star Game.

It will be the second trip to the midsummer classic for the former Yosemite Badger. Lilly was the lone Toronto Blue Jays' pick in the 2004 All-Star game played in Houston.

Lilly has an 8-6 record a 3.32 ERA for the first half of the season .

"I'm excited and looking forward to it, and I hope I get an opportunity to pitch -- that'd be fun, too," Lilly said.

Lilly is one of two left handed pitchers on the National League team, selected by manager Charlie Manuel in part because of his 3-0 career record and 2.38 ERA at Busch Stadium.

Around the Horn

Former Yosemite Badgers' right handed pitcher Eric Stolp (3-1, 2.76 ERA) has now had four starts this season for the Augusta GreenJackets and continues to improve.

"I'm healthier now more than any time in my career," Stolp said in a phone interview. "Getting the opportunity to work my way into the starting rotation gives me more incentive."

Injuries to starting pitchers afforded Stolp the opportunity to break into the six-man rotation (Salem and San Jose are the only other teams in the league with six-man starting rotations) but low pitching count and fielding will help keep him there.

In his first start, Stolp faced 20 batters and the GreenJackets recorded 15 outs on ground balls.

"I throw a two-seam fastball and a a slider," Stolp said. "When I keep the ball down and the defense is playing so well there are a lot of groundball outs."

Stolp, made his third start of the year on Monday, June 30 and got his first win as a starter in his longest outing of the season -- six innings. He yielded two runs on six hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts.

"I give it my best effort," the righthander said. "So whether I am starting or throwing in relief, I'm having fun and doing what I love the best."