Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard Wins All-Star Home Run Derby

PITTSBURGH – Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has been a major leaguer for barely more than one year. On Monday he won his first All-Star Home Run Derby title.

Howard beat Mets third baseman David Wright with five home runs in the final round of the derby. The two both his 18 home runs in the first two rounds combined to set up the showdown. Howard became the second Phillies player in two years to win the Derby. Bobby Abreu won it with 41 home runs last year, a record.

Howard nearly didn't make it out of the first round. The last batter to hit, Howard had four home runs with nine outs before hitting four consecutive homers to surpass Jermaine Dye of the White Sox for the fourth and final shot in the second round. In the second round, he hit his final four with eight outs to surpass Miguel Cabrera of the Marlins.

Howard hit his fifth in the final round with just five outs.

Wright, with teammate Paul Lo Duca on the mound, thrilled fans in the first round. A righty, Wright pounded shot after shot deep into the upper deck in left field. His 16 homers was the third most ever in the first round of a derby, behind Bobby Abreu and Ortiz in 2005, with 24 and 17 respectively.

Wright tired in round two. After two home runs on his first two swings, he made ten straight outs. He hit four home runs in the final round.

David Ortiz bashed 10 homers in round one, including four into Allegheny River, 460 feet to right field. His longest shot traveled an estimated 488 feet.

Ortiz was eliminated after hitting three second-round homers.

Eliminated after the first round were Dye, Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, Astros first baseman Lance Berkman, Blue Jays third baseman Troy Glaus.

Dye hit seven home runs, including two that appeared to land in the first row of left field.

Tejada, who hit 17 home runs in the first half, led off and never got into a groove leading off. He finished with three.

Berkman, who hit 24 homers in the first half, hit the first ball into the Allegheny. Berkman struggled to elevate the ball and finished with three as well.

Glaus, who was blanked in his last try at the Home Run Derby in 2001, hit a mammoth shot down the left field line for his first homer. Unfortunately, it was his sole home run as several of his other shots fell at the warning track.

Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski, who hit the famous walk-off home run at Pittsburgh's old Forbes Field in the 1960 World Series, threw out the first pitch.