Duke was named to the National League team as an injury replacement, giving the Pirates two players in Tuesday night's All-Star Game in St. Louis. Duke replaces San Francisco right-hander Matt Cain and is the first Pirates starting pitcher to be selected to an All-Star Game since Denny Neagle in 1995.
Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez is also on the NL roster as a reserve. That gives the Pirates two players in an All-Star Game for just the third time in this decade as Brian Giles and Jason Kendall played in the 2000 game in Atlanta and Jason Bay and Sanchez played in the 2006 game at PNC Park.
Duke found out about his late addition to the NL roster from manager John Russell when he arrived at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Sunday before the Pirates lost to the Phillies 5-2.
"He said he wanted to see me in his office and I wondering what I had done to get into trouble because I had just walked into the clubhouse," Duke said. "It was a great surprise, though. I put a lot of work in the offseason to get ready for this season and it's nice to get a reward like this."
Duke's three complete games tie him for the league lead and are the most by a Pirates pitcher since Jeff Suppan also had three in 2003. They are the most by a Pirates left-hander since Neagle had five in 1995.
NOTES, QUOTES
--LHP Paul Maholm, who started on opening day, will also start the first game after the All-Star break Friday against St. Louis. He will be followed in the rotation by RHP Charlie Morton, LHP Zach Duke, RHP Ross Ohlendorf and RHP Virgil Vasquez.
--RHP Dovydas Neverauskas, a 16-year-old from Lithuania, has been signed as an amateur free agent and will begin his professional career in September in the Florida Instructional League. Neverauskas is the first European player ever signed by the Pirates.
BY THE NUMBERS: 38-50 -- The Pirates' record at the All-Star break, putting them on course for a 17th consecutive losing season, which would be an American professional sports record. The Pirates were 44-50 at the break last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I was going home to Texas to sit on my butt for a couple of days. This will be more fun," -- LHP Zach Duke, on being picked to be an injury replacement Sunday on the National League roster for the All-Star Game.
ROSTER REPORT
--LHP Zach Duke is the first Pirates starting pitcher selected to an All-Star Game since Denny Neagle in 1995. Duke was added to the National League roster on Sunday as injury replacement for San Francisco's Matt Cain. Duke is 8-8 with a 3.29 ERA in 17 starts this season.
--OF Garrett Jones, a 28-year-old rookie, homered for the third straight game Sunday. He has hit five home runs in 42 at bats since being called up from Class AAA Indianapolis and being installed as the starting left fielder when Nyjer Morgan was traded to Washington.
--RHP Virgil Vasquez, a 27-year-old rookie, had the worst of his four starts since being recalled from Indianapolis as he gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings. He had pitched six innings in each of his first three outings.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Tyler Yates (right elbow inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 16. He played catch May 22 and played catch from 60 and 90 feet on May 24. He had a setback during a simulated game June 9. He resumed throwing in late June.
RHP Craig Hansen (neck spasms) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 20, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 3. He played catch May 3 for the first time since getting hurt, and he threw off a mound May 15. He then suffered a right shoulder injury in extended spring training, and he was shut down until late June.
LHP Phil Dumatrait (arthroscopic right shoulder surgery in August 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 16.