ST. LOUIS — When the National League roster for the 80th All-Star Game was announced earlier this month, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino failed to make the cut.

But there he was last night at Busch Stadium, starting in center field.

Just the second born-and-raised player from Hawai'i to make an All-Star Team — then-Mets' lefty Sid Fernandez was selected in 1986 and 1987 — Victorino played six innings in his All-Star debut, batting 1 for 2 while figuring prominently in the National's three-run rally in the second.

With two out, Victorino followed a broken-bat hit by the Mets' David Wright with a solid single to right on the first pitch he saw from AL starter Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays.

After racing from first to third on a run-scoring single up the middle by St. Louis' Yadier Molina, Victorino trotted home when the throw from Texas center fielder John Hamilton deflected off his shoulder while sliding.

With two outs in the fourth, Victorino struck out swinging against Kansas City's Zack Greinke.

"I had a wonderful time,'' Victorino said after the American League's 4-3 victory. "It's my first and hopefully it's not my last.''

A four-sport standout from Maui's St. Anthony High, Victorino finished fifth among outfielders in the original All-Star voting but rallied to win the four-day runoff for the 33rd and final roster spot, thanks in part to the Bran-Torino alliance he helped set up with Detroit third baseman Brandon Inge.

"I came up with the idea after seeing that (San Francisco first baseman) Pablo Sandoval and (Texas second baseman) Ian Kinsler were leading after the first day of voting,'' Victorino said. "I heard that they were working together and wanted to know why I couldn't hook up with somebody, too.

"I said something to Bonnie (Clark, the Phillies' vice-president of communications), she ran it by the Tigers and the rest is history."

Both Victorino (15.6 million votes) and Inge (11.8 million) won their respective voting as both topped the record-setting 9 million votes that Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria received last year.

"Being voted in like that really means a lot to me,'' Victorino said. "It just shows the passion that the Philadelphia fans and baseball fans in general have for me, and I really appreciate it.''

And the Bran-Torino tag?

"That came from a lady in our marketing department,'' said Victorino, who furthered his cause with a walk-off single to beat the Reds in the midst of the voting period. "The whole thing really came together quickly and obviously worked out real well for both of us.''

Victorino found himself in St. Louis with outfielder partners and fellow first-time All-Stars Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth. Ibanez was voted onto the original squad, with Werth added as an injury replacement for the New York Mets' Carlos Beltran. On Monday, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel named Victorino as Beltran's replacement in the starting lineup.

"It's nice when your own manager is managing the game,'' Victorino said of the starting assignment.

Added Werth: "The three of us are great friends, on and off the field, and I think being able to go through this together makes it an even more special experience for all of us.''

Last night's game provided yet another career highlight for Victorino. In the last year, the 5-foot-9, 167-pound switch-hitter has helped the Phillies win the World Series, won a Gold Glove, competed in the World Baseball Classic and started in an All-Star Game.

"I've been busy, but in a very positive way,'' he said. "But I'm trying hard not to take anything for granted. I want to continue playing the same kind of baseball I've always played. I want to play to the best of my ability and to do whatever it takes to help my team win,''

Victorino, who batted .293 with 14 homers, 58 RBIs and 36 steals a year ago, entered the break at .309 with six homers, 42 RBIs and 15 steals.

So what can Victorino take from the past few days?

"Everything, really,'' he said. "Just being here, getting a chance to play with and against the guys who are recognized as the best, it's just such an honor. It's something I'll always be able to look back on.''