Big Papi Won HR Derby

Night full of emotions and batter explosion which was at Angel Stadium of Anaheim (California), where the slugger David Ortiz, Big Papi "for all fans of professional baseball, gave a display of power to become the new champion Home Run Derby.

But bigger and champion was when accepting the award, which had won in the final duel fellow Hanley Ramirez, looked at the sky and dedicated to his recently deceased friend, the Dominican, Jose Lima, who died of a massive attack heart last May at the age of 37.

Before slugger Boston Red Sox had been the great center of the contest prior to the traditional All-Star Game baseball in the majors, that tomorrow, Tuesday, will play at Angel Stadium of Anaheim (California).

Ortiz with his brilliant performance that began with eight homers in the first round to reach 13 in the semifinal and had 11 in the final against Ramirez, Florida Marlins, which was left with just five, also sent a message to detractors in Boston to remind you that knows how to hit the ball.

Harshly criticized by some sectors of the press in Boston, especially by the poor performance he had at the beginning of the season, Ortiz, 34, now has 18 homers in his possession and the Home Run Derby left no doubt that follows being a "master."

Not only did an exhibition in the batter's box with powerful straight-shoots-he did his compatriot Tony Peña, the Yankees' reserve coach of New York, but also glad the show with their smiles and great fellowship.

After Hanley was brilliant in his first two interventions with nine homers and 12 respectively, which allowed him to reach the final, the young talent of the Marlins could not overcome the pressure of the moment, although Ortiz was the first that came to dry his sweat and telling her to "enjoy."

Hanley scored only five runs in the final, while Ortiz had been brilliant with a series of four and four homers in a row to have eight with only two failures of the 10 regulatory disposal.

"It is always interesting at this point in the season to achieve the first home run title," quipped Ortiz. "The most important of all is that we are here for fans who enjoy and have fun with what we do."

The objective has not only met Ortiz but the remaining eight participants, especially outfielder Corey Hart, Milwaukee Brewers, in the first round was the best when connecting no less than 13 homers.

But he disappeared in the semifinals to become unable to make contact again to send the ball out of the park.

"Are these things you can not explain," Hart said after having been removed. "The beauty is that others did things very well."

He was referring to Hanley, who reached the final and Miguel Cabrera, the first baseman for the Detroit Tigers, who move to the semifinals with seven homers, but then could only hit five to be eliminated with 12.

In the first round were eliminated Chris Young (1) of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Vernon Wells (2) of Toronto, Nick Swisher (4) of the New York Yankees, who came in place of her partner , Robinson Cano, and Matt Holliday (5) of the St. Louis Cardinals.

But Ortiz was arguably the great figure of the derby to become the second player to get double digits in the final, in what was his first participation in the competition since 2006 when he was a semifinalist, the same as it had in 2005 .


Ortiz had not returned to the Home Run Derby and was not expected that he should make this year after not so good season in 2009 and had the bad start of the month this April.

However, Ortiz has resurfaced in full and in addition to the 18 homers he has been in competition with 57 RBIs, has also been chosen for the sixth time for the All-Star Game.


"It's very good for him," said Ramirez. "It's been a bad run, but I doubt that will have a second half of the outstanding competition."


For his part, Ortiz said Ramirez, who also has encountered a problem this season with the Marlins, was defined by Ortiz as if he were my son. "

The absence of big hitters that are in competition such as Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez, with former champion Prince Fielder, who did not defend his title, he assumed that the display of Ortiz had a double value.