Bonds overcomes deficit to make All-Star roster

The San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds hits a fifth inning double against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday in San Francisco. Bonds was voted onto the National League All-Star team on Sunday. PHOTO: AP

Barry Bonds overcame a 119,000-vote deficit in the final days of balloting and finished 123,000 ahead of the Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano on Sunday to claim the third and final starting outfield spot for the National League in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

"I'm at a loss for words right now," said Bonds, who will play the game before a hometown crowd in San Francisco. "It just means more because I'm at home. This is my town. This is my house. You can't say enough about being at home. It's great. This is the one I'll remember all time. This is the one I'll remember forever."

At 42, Bonds will be the oldest MLB All-Star starter. He tops Roger Clemens, who was 41 years, 11 months at the 2004 game in Houston, his hometown.

Bonds, heading to his 14th All-Star game and 12th as a starter, was the lone Giants player chosen for the July 10 game in San Francisco. Five home runs from tying Hank Aaron's career MLB record of 755, Bonds is beloved in San Francisco but jeered in most other cities following years of doping suspicion.

"One guy will be a lot bigger than everybody else. It's his hometown," said Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr, the top NL vote-getter. "He gets to have all the fun stuff and the press conferences. I just get to play."

The Boston Red Sox and AL champion Detroit Tigers led all teams with five players selected. Boston is sending first baseman David Ortiz, third baseman Mike Lowell, outfielder Manny Ramirez and pitchers Josh Beckett and Jonathan Papelbon.

Detroit had three players elected to start for the first time since 1983, including second baseman Placido Polanco, outfielder Magglio Ordonez and catcher Ivan Rodriguez. Rodriguez, a 14-time All-Star, was elected to start for the 12th time.