All-Star pitches

CHICAGO — The Washington Nationals’ pitching staff will be well-represented at this year’s All-Star Game.

Livan Hernandez and Chad Cordero were selected as a result of the players’ ballot yesterday to represent the National League at the July12 game at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Hernandez (12-2, 3.32 ERA), who will go to his second consecutive All-Star Game, is tied with St. Louis’ Chris Carpenter (12-4) for second in the NL in victories behind Florida’s Dontrelle Willis (13-3).

Meanwhile, Cordero, who will make his first appearance, leads the majors with 29 saves. He tied the major league record for saves in a month with 15 in June.

“Every kid growing up and playing baseball dreams of making it to the big leagues and being an All-Star,” Cordero said. “For the other players to vote you on is a great feeling because they see what you’re doing. It’s a good feeling the other players think you deserve it.

Cordero, 23, needs just one more save to move into 10th place on the franchise’s single-season saves list. Cordero is on pace to shatter John Wetteland’s franchise record of 43 saves set in 1993 and has a shot at Bobby Thigpen’s major league record of 57 set in 1990.

“It’s nice to know you have a security blanket back there in the ninth hole,” Nationals manager Frank Robinson said. “When you give him the ball and we’ve got a lead, that means we got a win. I feel very comfortable and reassured every time he goes out there that we’ve got a win.”

Hernandez did not pitch in last year’s game. Hernandez said he doesn’t want to pitch long if he gets in this year.

“I’m only going to pitch one [inning or] maybe one hitter,” Hernandez said. “It doesn’t matter for me. I want to enjoy it. I want to have a good time over there, and that’s it. I think more people here need to make it.”

First baseman Nick Johnson and outfielder Jose Guillen certainly had numbers to warrant consideration but did not finish in the top five in fan voting. Neither was among the five players on the online ballot and call-in that will select the 32nd player from the NL.

Johnson is hitting .320 with eight home runs and 42 RBI but plays the same position as possibly the two best hitters in the league this year, the Cubs’ Derrek Lee, who was voted the starter, and the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols.

“You deserve to be there,” Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said to Johnson after yesterday’s 12-inning, 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs. “We know it, and that’s what counts.”

Guillen, who is hitting .310 with 17 home runs and a team-high 46 RBI, finished 23rd among NL outfielders with 507,225 votes. The Phillies’ Bobby Abreu, the Mets’ Carlos Beltran and the Cardinals’ Jim Edmonds are the starting outfielders.

The Baltimore Orioles had two starters — second baseman Brian Roberts and shortstop Miguel Tejada — and two reserves — third baseman Melvin Mora and closer B.J. Ryan — named to the American League team. Roberts, hitting .360, and Tejada gave the Orioles both starting middle infielders on the AL team for the first time since Cal Ripken Jr. and Roberto Alomar in 1996.

The Cardinals led the NL with six players, including starting third baseman Scott Rolen and shortstop David Eckstein. The Mets’ Mike Piazza will make his 11th start, a record among major league catchers, and the Dodgers’ Jeff Kent will start at second base. Willis or future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens likely will be the starting pitcher.

Four members of the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox are among the AL starters: catcher Jason Varitek, outfielders Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez and designated hitter David Ortiz. The others are Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero. The White Sox’s Jon Garland and Mark Buehrle and the Blue Jays’ Roy Halladay are among the possible starting pitchers.

Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers was elected to the team a few days after being suspended for 20 games and fined $50,000 for an angry fit that sent a television cameraman to a hospital and prompted a police investigation. He will be allowed to participate in the game, baseball spokesman Pat Courtney said. Rogers has not decided whether he will go, according to Rangers spokesman Rich Rice.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.