Home Run Derby a Battle Between Yankees, Red Sox

The Home Run Derby had eight participants, as always. However, this was really a two-man event, as most of the home runs were hit by the Yankees' Robinson Cano and the Red Sox's Adrian Gonzalez. Since the Yankees and Red Sox usually overwhelm most of baseball, it was fitting that their stars squared off at the start of All-Star weekend. Yet although Boston is ahead in the AL East standings, New York got a symbolic win when Cano barely out-slugged Gonzalez.

The two sluggers were dead even through the night: Gonzalez took a 9-8 lead over Cano in the first round. Fittingly, they were among the first two to bat, since the whole night would turn out to belong to them. After that, the other six hitters tried and failed to match up, although team captains David Ortiz and Prince Fielder advanced after a first round "bat off."

The 2011 Derby was the first one to have a team competition, although, thanks to Cano and Gonzalez, the American League blew the National out of the water. It continued in round two, Cano getting 12 dingers and Gonzalez racking up 11, despite going over 90 minutes in between session. With 20 home runs through two rounds, the two cruised into a final showdown, and didn't let up after that.

Gonzalez looked to have the big advantage with 11 more final round homers, but Cano got 12 of his own with four outs to spare. After they combined for 63 home runs in the competition, Cano prevailed by 12-11 in the final, and 32-31 through all three rounds.

But it is a common trend that Home Run Derby champions struggle in the second half of the season due to exhaustion. If that continues, then it will work out great for the Tampa Bay Rays as they try to catch the Red Sox and Yankees in the AL East. Boston can't afford for MVP favorite Gonzalez to have a bad final few months, and New York doesn't need Cano to slump while Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter are battling injuries.

Of course, the Red Sox and Yankees have a lot of firepower in the rest of their lineups to make up for it. Yet they have an extra edge when Gonzalez and Cano are on fire; their duel Monday proved just that.

If there is a Home Run Derby curse, then those who finished far behind will be the lucky ones. That would benefit contenders like the Brewers, who had Fielder and Ricky Weeks struggle; the Cardinals, who saw Matt Holliday eliminated in the opening bat-off; and even the Red Sox after Ortiz got blown out in round two.

But Gonzalez and Cano can still make a bigger difference in the All-Star Game, especially since their team would get World Series home field if the AL wins Tuesday.

Sources

Yahoo Sports- "Robinson Cano uses dad's help to win Home Run Derby"