Orioles' Tejada chosen game's MVP

From staff and wire reports

DETROIT -- Baltimore shortstop Miguel Tejada won the home run derby at the All-Star Game last year. This year, he didn't even participate in Monday's event.

But his home run Tuesday night helped propel the American League to a 7-5 victory in the game.

Tejada, playing as a starter for the first time, was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

Tejada homered off John Smoltz to lead off the second inning and give the AL a 1-0 lead. He finished the night 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs.

"Tejada got us off to a great start and we were able to just go with it from there," said AL catcher Jason Varitek, one of four players from the World Series champion Boston Red Sox in the starting lineup.

While the Red Sox benefited from home field advantage from last year's All-Star Game win by the AL, Tejada would like to see his team take advantage this year.

"We hope we make it this year," Tejada said.

He came into the break hitting .329 with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs for the Orioles, who are 47-40 and two games behind the Red Sox in the AL East. Baltimore, which finished 78-84 last year when Tejada won AL MVP honors, is 1 1/2 games behind Minnesota in the wild card standings.