Red Sox, Cubs each place seven starters in July 15 game at Yankee Stadium

NEW YORK — The Yankees were the reigning champions in 1999, when the All-Star Game was played at Fenway Park in Boston. Derek Jeter remembers the odd sensation of dressing in the enemy's locker room.

"I don't remember how many Yankees went to Boston, but we were in the Boston clubhouse and it felt kind of weird," Jeter said.

Four Yankees made the team that summer, and seven members of the World Series champion Red Sox will have a locker in the Yankees' clubhouse for this year's game July 15 in the Bronx. The Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs had the most All-Stars, with seven apiece, when rosters were announced Sunday.

The American League has not lost an All-Star Game since 1996, winning all five games since Major League Baseball decided that the winning league would receive home-field advantage in the World Series.

"We have a responsibility to do the best we can and to let the best players in the world do what they do," AL manager Terry Francona of the Red Sox said. "Hopefully, the American League will be one run better than the National League."

The Cubs have three starters elected by fans: catcher Geovany Soto and outfielders Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome. Cubs pitchers Ryan Dempster, Kerry Wood and Carlos Zambrano, along with third baseman Aramis Ramirez, also made the team.

The Red Sox had four elected starters: first baseman Kevin Youkilis, second baseman Dustin Pedroia, outfielder Manny Ramirez and designated hitter David Ortiz, who will not play because of an injury but will attend the game. The other Red Sox named were outfielder J.D. Drew, catcher Jason Varitek and closer Jonathan Papelbon.

Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mariano Rivera will represent the Yankees, who are so friendly with the Red Sox that Francona will share the office of Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who will help coach.

"Some of my better friends in life are in that clubhouse," Rodriguez said, referring to Boston. "For three or four days, we're going to be good friends and teammates."

Rodriguez and Jeter will start on the left side of the AL infield, opposite Pedroia and Youkilis. The other AL starters voted by the fans were Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer and outfielders Ichiro of Seattle and Josh Hamilton of Texas. Players chose Milton Bradley of the Rangers to replace Ortiz as the DH.

Other NL starters will be Houston first baseman Lance Berkman, Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez, Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones and Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun.