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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Lingle-Rendell wager aims to boost Victorino's All-Star bid


Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino waved to the crowd after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers last month.

AP Photo/Lori Shepler

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The final spot for the National League All-Star roster is up for grabs, and the governors of Hawaii and Pennsylvania have made a friendly wager to rally online voting support for Phillies’ outfielder Shane Victorino, who is from Maui and known as the Flyin' Hawaiian.

According to the Phillies, Gov. Linda Lingle and Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell agreed to the stakes earlier today.
To win, one state must vote for Victorino more than the other. Voting for the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote takes place until 4 p.m. Eastern time Thursday on www.mlb.com or www.phillies.com.
Playing off Victorino’s team number, the losing state’s governor will send a taste of that state’s local flavor to the winning governor.
If Pennsylvania casts more votes, Lingle will send eight cases of pineapples to Rendell; if Hawaii casts more votes, Rendell will send eight cases of cheesesteaks to Lingle.
“I am confident that Pennsylvanians will show their love for Victorino,” said Rendell. “I am more than happy to show my support for Shane Victorino and the world champion Philadelphia Phillies. Let’s get him voted onto the All-Star team.”
“All the people of Hawai’i are proud of our local Maui hero, Shane Victorino. We are excited to do our part and show the baseball world our ‘aloha’ as we help get the final All-Star votes he needs to make the 2009 roster,” said Lingle.
Victorino is one of five players on the All-Star ballot for the final roster spot along with Cristian Guzman of the Washington Nationals, Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mark Reynolds of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants.