PITTSBURGH -- It seems ridiculous to consider that Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto won't be named to the National League squad for the July 12 All-Star Game at San Diego.
But Cueto has been left off the team in previous seasons when his first-half performance seemed to dictate a trip to the Midsummer Classic. So he tempered his enthusiasm when he was asked about representing the Giants in his first year with the club.
"I'm not thinking about it," Cueto said. "I'm just concentrating on doing my job and pitching well. In the past, I have thought about it, but in the end I've been disappointed. I've been frustrated in other years when I wasn't chosen."
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Those years include 2009, when Cueto was 7-4 with a 2.86 ERA through June; 2010, when he was 8-2 with a 3.74 ERA at the same juncture of the season; and 2012, when he owned a 9-3 record with a 2.21 ERA entering his final June start.
Said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, "He's had a great career. He's going to be one of those guys who's on the list every year."
Entering Wednesday, Cueto was tied for the NL lead in wins (11) and ranked second in innings (109 1/3), tied for second in winning percentage (.917) and fifth in ERA (2.06). He also was tied for ninth in the league with 96 strikeouts.
• Right fielder Hunter Pence, who's expected to be sidelined until early August, looked mobile while performing agility drills Wednesday. But Pence emphasized that his recovery from a right hamstring surgery remains in its beginning stages.
"I'm trying to get to jogging," Pence said. But, he added, "I have to be smart," pointing out he'll likely aggravate the injury if he tries to do too much too soon.