Home run derby kicks off All-Star festivities...Leaders at the break

NEW YORK (AP) Major League Baseball enters its midsummer All-Star break with the All-Star game tomorrow night at Yankee Stadium. Tonight it's the popular home run derby with Minnesota's Justin Morneau, Tampa Bay rookie Evan Longoria, Texas' Josh Hamilton and Cleveland's Grady Sizemore from the American League up against the NL lineup of Houston's Lance Berkman, Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, Florida's Dan Uggla and Philadelphia's Chase Utley.

UNDATED (AP) Except for the Los Angeles Angels' 6-game lead in the AL West, the other five division races are tight at the All-Star break. Boston has a half-game lead in the AL East, the Chicago White Sox are a game and a-half up in the Central, Philadelphia has a half-game-lead in the NL East, the Chicago White Sox are 4 and a-half in front in the NL Central and the Arizona Diamondbacks, despite being one game under .500, own a one-game lead in the NL West.

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Mets enter the All-Star break on a nine-game winning streak after last night's 7-0 shutout of the Colorado Rockies. Carlos Beltran got the Mets going with a three-run homer in the first and Carlos Delgado added some insurance with a two-run shot in the fifth.

SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) Topping off a tournament in which she shot a first-round 60, Paula Creamer won the Jamie Farr Classic in wire-to-wire fashion. Creamer finished with a 2-over 73 yesterday to win by two strokes for her seventh career win and third this year.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) About 200 people rallied outside Lambeau Field in an attempt to pressure the Packers into reinstating Brett Favre (fahrv) as the team's starting quarterback. The fans have started a Web site, www.bringbackbrettfavre.com, where fans can vote on what the Packers should do about their legendary quarterback, who has asked to be released but the Packers have so far refused.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-14-08 0430CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list