Phillies Notebook: Chooch punches All-Star ticket

The Phillies might be struggling to fight out of the NL East basement, but that didn’t stop them from sending three players to the 2012 All-Star Game in Kansas City.

Carlos Ruiz, Jonathan Papelbon and Cole Hamels will represent Philadelphia in the Midsummer Classic. The Phillies had been marketing Ruiz with a “Vote Chooch” campaign to get the catcher to his first All-Star Game. Chooch won’t be starting, but he’ll be there on manager Tony LaRussa’s bench.

Hamels will be appearing in his third All-Star Game, with Papelbon heading to his fifth. The game is scheduled for July 10 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. It will be televised nationally on FOX, with pregame ceremonies starting at 7:30 p.m.