Piazza: It Never Gets Old Being All-Star

Dodger catcher Mike Piazza was the National League’s leading vote getter for the second consecutive year in fan balloting for the All-Star game, which will be played in Cleveland next Tuesday.

Piazza, the MVP of the 1995 All-Star game, received 2,626,213 votes, which exceeds his total of 2,272,115 by 354,098.

“I guess there are a lot of Italians out there,” Piazza said. “I’m just really honored. I’m really excited.”

Piazza has been selected as the starting catcher for five consecutive seasons.

“It never gets old for me,” said Piazza, who has batted .333 with two home runs and four RBIs in his first four All-Staar games. “I’m looking forward to this one just as much as any one I’ve ever been to.”

Piazza batted .431 with nine home runs and 25 RBIs in June and lifted his batting average 44 points from .321 to .365.

Raul Mondesi, who has hit in 19 of his last 24 games despite playing with a shoulder injury, said he doesn’t care if he’s selected as an All-Star reserve.

“If I make it fine,” Mondesi said. “If I don’t, I’ll go to the Dominican.”

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Rookie second baseman Wilton Guerrero’s eight-game hitting streak was broken in Tuesday night’s game against the Texas Rangers, said he’s not going after bad pitches.

“I have more patience,” said Guerrero, who has batted .354 with two doubles, two triples and five RBIs in his hitting streak. “I’m just waiting for pitches I can hit.”

Manager Bill Russell said Guerrero has made a quick transition to the majors.

“He’s handled the pressure that goes along with being in the major leagues,” Russell said.