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SAN FRANCISCO -- Johnny Cueto intends to pitch in next weeks All-Star Game after not getting to play in his first appearance there two years ago.If Giants manager Bruce Bochy has any say in the matter, Cueto will start in the Midsummer Classic.Cueto pitched a five-hitter to become the NLs first 13-game winner, and San Francisco beat the Colorado Rockies 5-1 on Wednesday night to move atop the major league standings.He has made an enormous case of starting that game, Bochy said following Cuetos fourth complete game this season. You look at his record, his numbers, what a great first half hes had. Its obvious were pulling for it to happen.With the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw on the disabled list and Jake Arrieta of the Cubs stumbling in recent weeks, the door is wide open for the Giants right-hander to become the second Giants pitcher in five years to start the All-Star Game, following Matt Cain in 2012.It would be big, Cueto said through an interpreter. It would mean a lot because it would be the first time that I would ever pitch in an All-Star Game. And I want to pitch.Cueto (13-1) allowed one run on five hits with eight strikeouts and one walk while going the distance for the fourth time this season. He also became the first Giants pitcher since John Burkett in 1993 to win 13 games before the All-Star break.The performance gave San Franciscos slumping bullpen a much-needed break.Whenever hes hitting spots, its tough, Rockies slugger Carlos Gonzalez said. Hes going to keep you off balance with all the different moves that he has. I like him because whenever you are trying to get big hes hard to hit.San Francisco (54-33) passed the Chicago Cubs (52-32) for the majors best record and has won five of seven. Buster Posey homered for the second time in three days, Brandon Belt doubled and tripled and Brandon Crawford drove in two runs for San Francisco.Posey struck out looking with a runner on third in the first inning before hitting his 11th home run of the season off Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa (5-7) in the sixth.De La Rosa allowed three runs over seven innings with five strikeouts and one walk. The Colorado lefty has lost two straight since his four-game winning streak.Grant Green walked and scored on Belts RBI triple in the first. Belt scored on Crawfords two-out single.Green also scored on a wild pitch in the eighth and Crawford added a sacrifice fly to make it 5-1.Rookie sensation Trevor Story drove in Colorados lone run in the fourth on a fielders choice grounder with the bases loaded.CUETO AT THE PLATESan Franciscos starter wasnt as dominant at the plate as he was on the mound, but Cueto still managed to end an 0-for-26 slump when he singled off De La Rosa in the second inning.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: Bochy said he hopes to know by this weekend when OF Hunter Pence (right hamstring surgery) will begin a rehab assignment. Pence has been taking batting practice and running. Hes coming along great, right on pace, Bochy said. ... RHP Matt Cain (strained right hamstring) is scheduled to throw 65 pitches in a rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday. ... 3B Matt Duffy (strained right Achilles tendon) has been running on a treadmill. ... RHP Cory Gearrin was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder. ... RHP Albert Suarez was called up from Sacramento to take Gearrins place on the roster.UP NEXTRockies: Right-hander Chad Bettis (6-6) pitches Thursday in the opener of a four-game home series with Philadelphia. Bettis has a 6.58 ERA over his previous five starts.Giants: Jeff Samardzija (8-5) makes his third start against the Diamondbacks this season in Arizona on Friday. In his other two appearances combined the right-hander allowed five earned runs in 15 1/3 innings. Cheap NCAA Jerseys . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Wholesale NCAA Jerseys . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. http://www.cheapauthenticncaajerseys.com/ . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. Wholesale College Jerseys . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. Cheap College Basketball Jerseys . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4).MONTREAL -- The new guys in Major League Soccer didnt take much time to get to the top. Halfway through their second season in the league, the Montreal Impact lead the Eastern Conference with a league-best 9-4-4 record. And although they have played fewer games than most clubs, their 31 goals also lead the 19-team league. "You see a team that knows how to get points in this league," fullback Jeb Brovsky said Monday. "Last year, we gave up a few goals. "The mental focus is what it takes. Weve learned what it takes to win." As an expansion team in 2012, Montreal went 5-9-3 through the first 17 games of the 34-game regular season. They ended up 12-16-6 for 42 points to finish out of the playoffs in seventh place in the East. This year, they already have 31 points -- a 13-point improvement from the halfway mark last year. They have done it with most of the same players they had by the end of the 2012 campaign, but with new coach Marco Schallibaum replacing MLS rookie Jesse Marsch. It seems the former Swiss international and veteran coach was just what a team led by older Italian stars needed to take the next step. Even if the fiery Schallibaum has already served three one-game suspensions. "I see the team is motivated on the field and is progressing, its all very positive," said Schallibaum. So far, the 2013 campaign has been all about winning. It started in the pre-season when they won the Disney Soccer Classic tournament in Orlando, Fla. While running off victories in regular season play, they also won the Voyageurs Cup by beating Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Amway Canadian Championship. The challenge will be to keep that pace up through the second half with opponents tightening defences to shut down league-leading scorer Marco Di Vaio, who has 11 goals. Also, the Impact are playing four additional games thanks to their qualification for the CONCACAF Champions League. The team ended the first half in a mini-slump that saw them blow a lead to lose 4-3 at home to Colorado, then eke out ties with Toronto and Chivas USA, two of the leagues lowest ranked clubs. The question is whether it is a temporary slide or a sign they have already peaked. "Theres certainly been some wake-up calls and reality checks," said goalkeeper Troy Perkins. "Thats to be expected. "Were into July, halfway through the season. Its always like this. Good things will happen to the teams that can grind it out and stay the course. We look back and we have to understand we are a good team. In the first half, weve done great things. We should be able tto do it again.dddddddddddd." The season started with surprise wins in Seattle and Portland, so they matched their total of away victories in 2012 in the opening two games. The Impact were winners through most of their 18 seasons in lower leagues before they joined MLS, so it is not a total surprise they were able to assemble a competitive squad in short order. Most of the current team were brought together in their expansion year, including striker Di Vaio and AC Milan great Alessandro Nesta. Both will be 37 by the end of July. There is a strong Italian accent with Nestas central defence partner Matteo Ferrari and two newcomers, Di Vaios former Bologna teammates Daniele Paponi and Andrea Pisanu. But raised in Europe where soccer is a winter game, they will be tested in the summer heat. "Certainly for the guys from Italy, this is a new thing for them," said Perkins. "Theyre in a for a rude awakening. "When we play some teams from the south, its going to be hot. You have to be willing to suffer through the pain to get the result." Fullbacks Brovsky and Hassoun Camara and midfielders Patrice Bernier, Felipe Martins, Davy Arnaud, Justin Mapp, Sanna Nyassi and Collen Warner all started last season in Montreal and remain key figures on the squad. Perkins was acquired late last season and has been an improvement in goal over the unhappy Donovan Ricketts. Under Schallibaum, the 33-year-old Bernier has thrived despite being moved to a more defensive position, and Mapp, a frequent target of fans invective last season, was a standout until sidelined by a recent injury (hes expected back for a game Saturday in New York). Warner and Nyassi have seen their minutes drop from last season, but have played well mainly as substitutes. The extra depth on the roster, including rookie midfielder Blake Smith and sophomore striker Andrew Wenger, has helped overcome some injuries. "Overall, were extremely happy with where we are," said sporting director Nick De Santis. "We know its going to be very hard to stay in first pace. "The objective from Day One was the make the playoffs. And, of course, its important if we can continue getting points and stay up there as well." With the international transfer window opening this week, De Santis said he would look for another "creative" offensive player and some long-term help on defence. Nesta is not expected back next season, and central defender Nelson Rivas missed most of last season and has yet to play in 2013. De Santis wants him on the field soon, if only to test his ailing knees. ' ' '