07-13-2005, 09:45 PM
Jul 12, 2005
Bobby Abreu of the Philadelphia Phillies hit a record 41 homers to win the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby on Tuesday, defeating Ivan Rodriguez of the Detroit Tigers in the final.
Representing Venezuela in the international format of this year's derby, Abreu smashed 24 home runs in the first round and dominated the field for most of the night to win in his debut appearance.
"I'm real excited, I feel good," Abreu said moments after Rodriguez flied out, giving him the final round 11-5.
"I was nervous in my first at-bat but I'm just going back with my trophy now and relax.
"I'm tired. It was a beautiful night."
Abreu beat out seven other competitors, with each hitter representing a different country as Major League Baseball used the event to help promote the World Baseball Classic scheduled for next March.
The Phillies slugger showed tremendous power from the start, easing past Miguel Tejada's first round record of 15, set last year in Houston.
His total of 41 also shattered Tejada's overall record of 27 from last year's event.
David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox, representing the Dominican Republic, was runner-up in the first round with 17 home runs.
Carlos Lee of the Milwaukee Brewers, representing Panama, was third with 11 homers and Rodriguez hit seven, representing Puerto Rico, to also advance to the second round.
Hee Seop Choi of the Los Angeles Dodgers (South Korea) and Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves (The Netherlands) both hit five, while Mark Teixeria of the Texas Rangers (United States) hit two and Canada's Jason Bay of the Pittsburgh Pirates failed to hit a home run, and were all eliminated.
Rodriguez led the second round with eight and Abreu joined him in the final after hitting six.
Lee (four) and Ortiz (three) were eliminated.
"I just did my best for the fans in Detroit, they're great," Rodriguez said.
The Tigers star was cheered loudly in every at-bat by the hometown crowd at Comerica Park.
The All-Star Game is on Wednesday.
Bobby Abreu of the Philadelphia Phillies hit a record 41 homers to win the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby on Tuesday, defeating Ivan Rodriguez of the Detroit Tigers in the final.
Representing Venezuela in the international format of this year's derby, Abreu smashed 24 home runs in the first round and dominated the field for most of the night to win in his debut appearance.
"I'm real excited, I feel good," Abreu said moments after Rodriguez flied out, giving him the final round 11-5.
"I was nervous in my first at-bat but I'm just going back with my trophy now and relax.
"I'm tired. It was a beautiful night."
Abreu beat out seven other competitors, with each hitter representing a different country as Major League Baseball used the event to help promote the World Baseball Classic scheduled for next March.
The Phillies slugger showed tremendous power from the start, easing past Miguel Tejada's first round record of 15, set last year in Houston.
His total of 41 also shattered Tejada's overall record of 27 from last year's event.
David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox, representing the Dominican Republic, was runner-up in the first round with 17 home runs.
Carlos Lee of the Milwaukee Brewers, representing Panama, was third with 11 homers and Rodriguez hit seven, representing Puerto Rico, to also advance to the second round.
Hee Seop Choi of the Los Angeles Dodgers (South Korea) and Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves (The Netherlands) both hit five, while Mark Teixeria of the Texas Rangers (United States) hit two and Canada's Jason Bay of the Pittsburgh Pirates failed to hit a home run, and were all eliminated.
Rodriguez led the second round with eight and Abreu joined him in the final after hitting six.
Lee (four) and Ortiz (three) were eliminated.
"I just did my best for the fans in Detroit, they're great," Rodriguez said.
The Tigers star was cheered loudly in every at-bat by the hometown crowd at Comerica Park.
The All-Star Game is on Wednesday.
I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.