MILWAUKEE -- Ryan Braun needed a lot of votes to put himself closer to a starting spot in the All-Star Game at Yankee stadium on July 15, and his fans have responded.

The young outfielder has surged forward in the voting over the last week, pushing Braun to within 33,000 votes of third place -- and a starting spot on the National League squad.

The Cubs' Alfonso Soriano -- who is currently on the disabled list with a broken left hand -- leads the voting among NL outfielders, with the Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. jumping into second place this week.

The real battle now is between Braun and the Cubs' Kosuke Fukudome. Braun and Fukudome are only separated by 32,925 votes, with Fukudome barely hanging on to third place.

The race between the two Central division outfielders is the closest race for a starting spot in the NL.

Brewers fans no longer have the opportunity to vote at Miller Park, but online voting will remain open until 10:59 p.m. CT on Wednesday.

Fans can vote up to 25 times to give Braun his final push into the starting lineup in New York.

Entering play on Monday, Braun is among the league leaders in total bases, extra-base hits, home runs, hits, multihit games, slugging percentage, RBIs and triples. He moved to left field from third base this season and has not committed an error.

Braun was named last year's NL Rookie of the Year at third base, after hitting .324 with 34 homers, 97 RBIs and a .634 slugging percentage -- the highest by a rookie in Major League history.

The 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, being held at Yankee Stadium in its final season, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD, and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 7 p.m. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game.

The Midsummer Classic will be the fourth held at Yankee Stadium and the eighth in New York City. The Yankees previously hosted the All-Star Game in 1939, 1960 and 1977; the Polo Grounds held the game in 1934 and 1942; Ebbets Field was the site in 1949; and Shea Stadium hosted the 1964 tilt.

Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until Wednesday at 10:59 p.m. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2008 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on Sunday, July 6. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the Monster 2008 All-Star Final Vote at MLB.com.

And the voting doesn't end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet at the All-Star Game via the Monster 2008 All-Star Game MVP vote at MLB.com.

2008 MLB All-Star Balloting : National League
First Base
RANK	PLAYER NAME	NL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Berkman, L.	Astros	2,132,663
2.	Pujols, A.	Cardinals	1,408,622
3.	Lee, D.	Cubs	1,383,909
4.	Fielder, P.	Brewers	1,166,433
5.	Howard, R.	Phillies	773,104
Second Base
RANK	PLAYER NAME	NL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Utley, C.	Philles	2,645,027
2.	DeRosa, M.	Cubs	1,139,698
3.	Uggla, D.	Marlins	947,245
4.	Matsui, K.	Astros	931,559
5.	Weeks, R.	Brewers	817,377
Third base
RANK	PLAYER NAME	NL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Jones, C.	Braves	2,433,753
2.	Ramirez, A.	Cubs	1,373,565
3.	Wright, D.	Mets	1,165,590
4.	Hall, B.	Brewers	752,773
5.	Reynolds, M.	D-backs	606,487
Shortstop
RANK	PLAYER NAME	NL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Ramirez, H.	Marlins	1,483,875
2.	Tejada, M.	Astros	1,315,240
3.	Theriot, R.	Cubs	1,114,336
4.	Rollins, J.	Phillies	914,962
5.	Reyes, J.	Mets	902,506
Catcher
RANK	PLAYER NAME	NL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Soto, G.	Cubs	1,827,279
2.	McCann, B.	Braves	1,149,247
3.	Kendall, J.	Brewers	1,089,604
4.	Molina, Y.	Cardinals	1,015,125
5.	Molina, B.	Giants	775,653
Outfield
RANK	PLAYER NAME	NL TEAM	TOTAL VOTES
1.	Soriano, A.	Cubs	2,120,635
2.	Griffey, K.	Reds	1,917,739
3.	Fukudome, K.	Cubs	1,783,983
4.	Braun, R.	Brewers	1,751,058
5.	Holliday, M.	Rockies	1,069,940
6.	Lee, C.	Astros	1,052,114
7.	Ankiel, R.	Cardinals	996,673
8.	Hart, C.	Brewers	986,861
9.	Beltran, C.	Mets	966,281
10.	Burrell, P.	Phillies	939,953
11.	Ludwick, R.	Cardinals	916,150
12	Pence, H.	Astros	849,878
13.	Cameron, M.	Brewers	849,387
14.	Upton, J.	D-backs	837,799
15.	McLouth, N.	Pirates	734,385
Results updated: Monday, June 30, 2008