ST. LOUIS (AP) — Prince Fielder’s approach at the plate is perfect for the Home Run Derby.
"I’m not quite sure about my mechanics. I just know I have to swing hard," Fielder said.
"In high school, a lot of people told me to swing easier and everything, but I just don’t know how
to do that."
He sure knows how to hit.
With hometown sluggers Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard eliminated early, Fielder won the derby Monday night
with a steady power display that included a jaw-dropping drive estimated at 503 feet.
The Milwaukee Brewers’ first baseman topped Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz 6-5 in the finals at Busch
Stadium to take home a title that St. Louis fans hoped would go to one of their own.
"It’s what I expected. This is Albert’s stadium and Ryan is from here," Fielder said. "I
was just happy I was able to put on a show and I’m glad I won."
Pujols, the Cardinals’ big first baseman, and Howard, who grew up in the Gateway City and plays for the
Philadelphia Phillies, were knocked out in the second round.
"I wish I would have put on a better show for our fans," Pujols said. "I was nervous a
little bit."
This year’s All-Star festivities were supposed to belong to Pujols in his home ballpark. But Fielder
snatched the spotlight in baseball’s annual warmup for Tuesday night’s Midsummer Classic.
With three outs remaining in the final round, Fielder smacked a drive onto the grassy hill in center
field to clinch the crown. He posed for a moment with his bat held high, then embraced Brewers teammate
Ryan Braun near home plate.
Fielder started out using a bat that belonged to injured Milwaukee teammate Rickie Weeks, then switched
to Braun’s stick.
"It was a little longer," Fielder said. "Once I grabbed his bat, it felt pretty
good."
Fielder, the son of former big league slugger Cecil Fielder, became the youngest player to hit 50 homers
in 2007 at age 23. But that season, he was eliminated in the first round of the Home Run Derby at San
Francisco.
"I knew what to expect this time so I was a little more relaxed," he said. "I think it’s
very competitive. I don’t think (any) of the guys would be here if they weren’t. But it’s fun at the
same time."
Fielder and Cruz both made their major league debuts in 2005 with the Brewers — and each has 22 home runs
this year. Cruz, enjoying a breakout season, was a late addition to the All-Star roster because of an
injury to Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter
Fielder finished with 23 home runs, most in the contest, and hit the four longest shots of the night.
"He had a very nice rhythm," said batting practice pitcher Sandy Guerrero, Fielder’s minor
league batting coach. "He kept his cool, he relaxed."
Pujols, who leads the majors with 32 homers, needed a late rally just to avoid elimination in the first
round. With one out to work with, he connected on consecutive swings to force a three-player swing-off
for the final spot in round 2, sending the red-clad crowd of 45,981 into a high-fiving frenzy.
One fan in the bleachers lent a helping hand, too, appearing to reach over the right-center fence to
catch one of Pujols’ homers. During a game it might have been ruled fan interference, but there’s no
video replay in the derby.
Carlos Pena hit one homer in the five-swing tiebreaker and Joe Mauer was shut out. So when Pujols homered
twice he moved on — but not for long.
Looking fatigued, he managed six homers next time up for a two-round total of 11, easily surpassed by
Fielder, Cruz and Howard, the 2006 derby champ.
"I didn’t feel any pressure. I mean, I think the only pressure you feel in a Home Run Derby is that
you just want to try and get at least one," said Howard, who picked an old favorite for his
batting-practice pitcher. "It was a lot of fun for me to have my summer ball coach (Deron Spink)
out there because it was a special experience for him. It meant more to me to have him out there than
just about anything else."
Fielder’s longest shot was a 503-foot drive to right-center that disappeared between two sections of
bleachers.
"I’m just happy. It was pretty cool to actually win one," he said.
During the first round, Cruz hit a drive into the fourth deck in left field, never accomplished during a
game at 4-year-old Busch Stadium.
Brandon Inge, Adrian Gonzalez, Pena and Mauer were knocked out in the first round. Inge became the eighth
contestant to get shut out since the current format was adopted in 1996.