Aoki slides out of All-Star starting lineup
Giants outfielder falls to fourth in voting; Posey expands lead at catcher
SAN FRANCISCO -- Speed is one of Nori Aoki's assets as a ballplayer, but he'll have to run a little harder to join the prospective starting outfield in the National League's All-Star balloting.
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The Giants' left fielder slipped to fourth in the latest NL voting update. With 4,349,685 votes, Aoki trails St. Louis' Matt Holliday, who has 4,716,941 votes, by a slender margin. Miami's Giancarlo Stanton (4,824,989 votes) has risen to second place, well behind balloting leader Bryce Harper of Washington (9,224,370). The top three vote-getters will gain election to the starting squad.
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.
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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.
Giants catcher Buster Posey lengthened his lead over St. Louis' Yadier Molina in the catchers' balloting, 6,510,231 to 5,251,040. Posey is bidding for his third All-Star selection.
At shortstop, San Francisco's Brandon Crawford remains in second place but has fallen farther behind St. Louis' Jhonny Peralta, 5,864,485 to 3,688,042. Second baseman Joe Panik occupies third place with 2,450,837 votes, well back of the leader, Miami's Dee Gordon (5,244,914).