"The Mexicutioner is heading to his second All-Star Game in three years.

The word came down early Sunday morning that closer Joakim Soria, who shares the American League lead with 22 saves, will be the Royals' lone representative here in nine days when baseball stages its 81st Mid-Summer Classic.

It marks the seventh straight season the Royals will send only one player to the All-Star Game. Soria beat out teammates David DeJesus, Billy Butler and José Guillen for the honor.

If the game, as baseball insists, is more than a showcase of its top stars, it's hard to argue with the decision. Soria, 25, is firmly established as one of the game's top closers and is on a run of 14 straight successful save conversions."