Sox sending six to St. Louis as All-Stars

Pedroia’s not saying he stuffed ballots. He’s just saying he’s got friends.

“I found out I was like seven or eight thousand votes away,’’ Pedroia said. “That stuff’s crazy. All my friends call me and say, ‘Hey, we’re voting for you.’ I say, ‘Thanks man, appreciate it.’ ’’

In the end, Pedroia pushed past Kinsler by 73,000 votes and with left fielder Jason Bay was one of two Sox to be named starters for the Midsummer Classic, a week from Tuesday.

Altogether, the Sox will send six players to St. Louis, the major league high. Closer Jonathan Papelbon, practically a regular at the game, will make his fourth straight trip. First baseman Kevin Youkilis will go for a second straight season. Pitcher Josh Beckett, who took home the win for the American League two years ago in San Francisco, will return for his second All-Star Game. Which means knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, a first-timer in his 17th year in the majors, will have plenty of people to show him the ropes.

“I think our team is worthy of having a lot of representatives,’’ manager Terry Francona said after Boston’s 8-4 win over Seattle yesterday at Fenway Park.

Knowing the fans put him over the top, Pedroia feels obliged to give them a show.

“It’s great to be voted in by the fans,’’ said Pedroia, who will be the first Sox second baseman since Bobby Doerr to start in consecutive All-Star Games. “Obviously my numbers [3 homers, 36 RBIs, .290 average] aren’t as good as some of the other guys’, but it’s an honor to be voted in, so I’ll go out there and play as hard as I can.’’

With so many All-Stars and the team in first place, Papelbon said, “You feel like you’re going to the All-Star Game in full force.’’

Jon Lester, after seeing his relievers pick him up after he went 6 2/3 innings yesterday, allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits, said he wished there was a way he could vote the entire bullpen into the game. Papelbon echoed the sentiments.

“I’m representing my guys down there, the guys I go to work with every night and grind it out in the bullpen, for sure,’’ he said.

There wasn’t a player among them that didn’t consider it a privilege.

“I think the guys that say, ‘We’ll take the couple days off as a consolation’ are lying most of the time,’’ said Bay, who went twice with the Pirates. “I think everybody would love to go as much as you could.’’

After getting his first Star experience in New York a year ago, Youkilis said, “There’s no word to describe how exciting and fun it is to play with some of the best players in the game. Just to be mentioned in the same group and categories as those guys, it’s just one of those fun experiences.’’

Youkilis was edged out in fan balloting by the Yankees’ Mark Teixeira, but Rays manager Joe Maddon, the AL skipper, tapped him as a reserve. For Youkilis, there was no question their AL East familiarity played a part in the decision.

“When the manager picks you, I’ve got to tip my cap to him,’’ he said.

Tied for the big league lead with 10 wins, Wakefield sensed this could be his year. He started surveying All-Stars around the clubhouse.

“I’ve been asking guys that have been there before what to expect, how to dress, and how to act, things like that,’’ said Wakefield, who got a standing ovation from the Fenway crowd when his selection was announced. He and Beckett were the first pair of Sox starting pitchers to be named to the team since Pedro Martínez and Derek Lowe in 2002.

For the 25-year-old Pedroia, giving advice to the 42-year-old Wakefield was a bit of a role reversal.

“He asked me like I’ve been there a lot,’’ Pedroia said. “I’m like, ‘Wake, I’ve been there one time. I don’t know what I’m doing.’ ’’

Of the All-Star experience, Youkilis said, “It goes so fast. You’re trying to follow the schedule. They give you an itinerary and you try to stick to it as much as you can, and enjoy yourself as much as you can. But it goes quick.

“You’ve just got to have fun every moment of it.’’

Julian Benbow can be reached at jbenbow@globe.com.