Posey slips behind Molina in All-Star voting

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Buster Posey-Yadier Molina voting competition is becoming even more serious.

Last week, Posey vaulted past Molina to gain the lead in balloting on the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot among National League catchers. In the latest voting results released Tuesday, however, Molina had forged back ahead of Posey. The St. Louis Cardinals star had 2,639,744 votes, fewer than 50,000 ahead of San Francisco's Posey, who had 2,634,846 votes.

Should Posey wind up on top, he would join an illustrious assortment of Giants to be voted into the lineup more than once. That group features Barry Bonds (12), Will Clark (four), Matt Williams (three), Jeff Kent (two), Hall of Famer Willie Mays (two) and Kevin Mitchell (two). Posey, a two-time All-Star, was voted into the lineup in 2012.

This drama will continue. Three more voting updates are scheduled before the All-Star starters and reserves will be announced.

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their computers, tablets and smartphones using the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, July 2, at 8:59 p.m. PT. For the first time, voting is exclusively online, where fans may submit up to 35 ballots.

Fans may also receive the ballot by texting VOTE to 89269 (USA) or 101s010 (Canada). Or text VOTA for a ballot in Spanish. Message and data rates may apply. Up to five messages. No purchase required. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for info.

Following the announcement of the 2015 All-Stars, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player for each league's All-Star roster. On Tuesday, July 14, watch the 2015 All-Star Game live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2015 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.

MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of All-Star Week festivities.

The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

Another Giant involved in a tight race is Nori Aoki, who's close behind Miami's Giancarlo Stanton for the third spot in the outfield. Stanton currently occupies that spot with 1,743,271 votes, but Aoki trails him closely with 1,696,369 votes.

Other Giants rank among the leaders at their respective positions but aren't extremely close. At shortstop, Brandon Crawford is second to St. Louis' Jhonny Peralta, 2,441,384 votes to 1,821,037. Second baseman Joe Panik, who's in third with 1,159,514 votes, is far behind Miami's Dee Gordonn (2,226,127). Likewise, first baseman Brandon Belt has topped the 1 million vote mark (1,032,042) but stands in fifth place, well behind Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt (2,010,049), the top vote-getter at that position.