Written by Steve Gardner at USA Today.com
The highly anticipated matchup of the game’s two most fearsome power hitters never materialized, but Aaron Judge still ruled supreme at the All-Star Home Run Derby.
The major league home run leader at the All-Star break with 30 never got to face off against defending champion Giancarlo Stanton, who was eliminated in the opening round.
But Judge more than lived up to his end of the bargain, hitting a total of 47 homers in the competition – including four of them over 500 feet.
“It was a blast. I enjoyed every minute of it,” Judge said, “Watching all the other guys swing. Coming here early, talking to the media. Everything about today was fantastic.”
The New York Yankees rookie – who was booed in the pregame introductions by the pro-Marlins crowd – had the fans cheering for him by the end as he defeated Miguel Sano of the Minnesota Twins for the title.
“I was expecting it,” Judge said of the initial boos. “They’re cheering on their guy. They want their guys to win. It’s all part of the atmosphere. I enjoyed it all.”
Judge was severely tested in the opening round, but a late surge propelled him past hometown favorite Justin Bour in the most dramatic slugfest of the competition.
Bour set the bar extremely high, slugging 22 homers in the opening round, including six on consecutive swings. But Judge rallied with a string of late homers, including a 501-foot blast. He hit the eventual winner in the final seconds to advance to Round 2.
He originally thought he had won on his previous swing, but umpires nullified his apparent home run because it hit the roof.
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