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Morton selected for All-Star game

The Associated Press

HOUSTON — Houston right-hander Charlie Morton was added to the American League All-Star team on Friday, giving the Astros a major league-leading six players in next week’s game.

Morton joins fellow starters Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole on the squad, which also features Houston second baseman Jose Altuve, outfielder George Springer and third baseman Alex Bregman. Manager A.J. Hinch is managing the AL team.

It’s the first career selection for the 34-year-old Morton, who is in his 11th major league season. He’s 11-2 with a 2.96 ERA and 146 strikeouts in 19 starts this year. He has also played for the Braves, Pirates and Phillies in his career.

Pujols moving on up

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Albert Pujols hit two home runs to tie Ken Griffey Jr. for sixth place on the career list with 630, and the Los Angeles Angels rolled to an 11-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners late Thursday night. It was the 50th multihomer game for Pujols.

Streak now at 49

BALTIMORE – Shin-Soo Choo of the Texas Rangers, who was celebrating his 36th birthday, hit a single in the third to extend his club record on-base streak to 49 games Friday night in a 5-4 win at Baltimore.

It’s also the longest streak in the majors in the last 10 years. The all-time record is held by Boston legend Ted Williams (84 games).

Utley announces retirement

LOS ANGELES — Chase Utley will retire from baseball at the end of this season, capping a 16-year career that included a World Series championship with Philadelphia and an elder statesman role with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The six-time All-Star said he’s leaving to spend more time with his wife and two young sons.

“I’m ready to be a full-time dad,” he said.

Utley announced his decision at a jammed news conference in the bowels of Dodger Stadium on Friday, with several of his teammates surprising him by crowding into the small, steamy room.

“I just want you guys to know that I’ve signed a five-year extension,” Utley deadpanned, drawing laughter from manager Dave Roberts and teammates Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner, Alex Wood, Andrew Toles, Joc Pederson, Logan Forsythe and Ross Stripling.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw sat on the floor in a corner, with Matt Kemp, Rich Hill, Corey Seager, Austin Barnes, and Kenta Maeda joining him. Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt looked on, while hitting coach Turner Ward used his phone to capture video.

The 2019 season would have been the final year of a $2 million, two-year deal.

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