David Ortiz Holds off Hanley Ramirez for Home Run Derby title Nick Swisher Ousted in First Round

ANAHEIM - Nick Swisher worked tirelessly to be all-Star festivities, campaigning this month, voting member of the American League's final group. Monday evening, however, the Yankee right fielder could be out of her first round Home Run Derby.

Swisher managed the opening round of the four homers, ranking him sixth among eight competitors are endless batting practice session masquerading as entertainment. When it finally ended, David Ortiz won the championship 11-round homers, besting Hanley Ramirez five.

The event began with limply, with Arizona 's Chris Young leading off the first round by hitting only one Homer. Toronto's Vernon Wells hardly better, with two.

These performances resulted in a grateful cheering when Milwaukee's Corey hart, batting third, was found in rhythm and bashed 13, one of its final nine outs came on and bouncing off the rocks into the left center field. That drew high ovation and clinched the first round win.

Swisher follows that, and quickly managed to lift his stated fear of failing to hit any. His four homers, though not embarrassing, left him vulnerable to elimination, especially given the names that follow him St. Louis 'Matt Holliday, Boston' s Ortiz, Florida's Ramirez and Detroit's Miguel Cabrera.

The top four hitters in the first round advanced to the second stage.

Holliday followed Swisher, and Homer had only one with nine outs. But the Cardinal slugger knocked out four straight on the wall, complete with five and delivery Swisher prospects still more bleak.

Ortiz eight home runs down Swisher in the fourth place, and when Ramirez hit his fifth with the final nine outs in turn three, Yankee outfielder is eliminated.

"Put up a respectable number. I am cool with that, «Swisher said. "If I have the opportunity to do it again, which I definitely would have been, it would be different.

Swisher left to explain: "I just think the nerves and everything, and knowing what to expect. You feel naked out there, people. Do you have all those cameras standing around, not batting cage. It is obvious that we must start this thing early, but the day time, man, it is hard to see, people. shadows.

Slowly and seems endless Derby, interrupted by long on-field chats with not Ferrell, Hank Aaron and Reggie Jackson - plodded with hart, Ramirez, Ortiz and Cabrera to advance to the second stage, where home run of the carry over from first.

Ortiz and Ramirez opened monster showings, Posting 13 and 12 homers, respectively, 21 and finishing in a tie after the first two rounds. Hart follow, clearly spent his earlier explosion. That the brewer was shut out in the second round, leaving only 13, he hit the first. When Cabrera followed with five, giving love to the whole 12, Ramirez and Ortiz advanced to the final two people to open their ties.