All-Star hopeful Wright extends RBI streak

NEW YORK -- Nine days ago, the All-Star Game was the furthest thing from David Wright's mind. The Mets' third baseman was mired in a 7-for-60 slump that saw his average dip all the way to .262 from .302, and a struggling New York team was departing Queens for a week-long road trip to play the defending National League champs and a difficult division rival.

What a difference a week can make. In Tuesday's 10-1 win over the Athletics -- the Mets' fifth in their last six games -- Wright went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. He has driven in a run in seven straight games to tie a career high.

Wright, though, is going to need more than just continued success at the plate if he's going to go to Minneapolis for what would be his eighth All-Star Game and third in a row. His .278 average and .731 OPS won't be enough for his fellow players or the All-Star coaching staff to select him, so his best bet is through the fan vote.

In the All-Star ballot update released Monday, Wright was in second among third basemen with 1,260,895 votes, trailing Aramis Ramirez of the Brewers, who had 1,279,902 -- a margin of just 19,007 tallies. Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval was within striking distance with 1,194,607.

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com -- online or on a mobile device -- using the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Experian until Thursday, July 3, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2014 All-Star Game will be played at Target Field on Tuesday, July 15 on FOX.