Yes, Wilson Alvarez said Monday, he was thrilled to be named an All-Star. And yes, Alvarez said, his head wasn’t in the game Sunday, when he pitched 2 1/3 sloppy innings in a 9-2 loss to the Brewers. “Two days ago I had a problem with my wife and had to take her to the hospital,” Alvarez said. His wife, Dihanna, is expecting their second child. “I couldn’t really concentrate on baseball.”
His wife is home now and fine. As for his selection, which made him the first Venezuelan pitcher ever chosen: “It’s like a dream come true. The only thing I’ve got to do is take my camera with me and take a lot of pictures.”
Then he amended himself. “They (Sox All-Star veterans) told me already I’ll have to sign a lot of autographs.”
Bere’s back: For the fourth start in a row, All-Star Jason Bere didn’t get a win Monday night. This, though, was a good one. “Definitely my past three haven’t been too quality, in the least,” Bere said. “I needed this one to hopefully get back into a little groove.”
Medical report: Joey Cora, much better since his June 29 rib-cage injury, said Monday he expects to be back in action after the All-Star break. This, he said, was scary. Everything hurt. “I thought I was pregnant and was going to have a child,” he said. “But it’s all right now.” . . . Early looks at Sunday’s MRI on Darrin Jackson, hurting from shin splints, found nothing else wrong. Radiologists will take another look Tuesday.
No platoon: Mike LaValliere is getting more work as Ron Karkovice searches for his stroke, but manager Gene Lamont said Monday it’s not a platoon. Karkovice is 7 for his last 58 (.121), but his last two hits were homers.
