In a final with a Latin flavor, the Dominican Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sent 25 balls over the wall to beat Cuban Randy Arozarena at the Home Run Festival held this Monday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, where the Major League Baseball All-Star Game activities take place.
Guerrero Jr. overcame a grueling semifinal and hit two home runs more than Arozarena, who finished with 23 home runs, to be crowned the champion of the feature-length batting competition in the Major Leagues.
“I knew that God was going to bless me and he did bless me”, Guerrero Jr. said of his win in Seattle.
DOMINICAN SHOWDOWN
Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays) he dispatched 26 full-turn boards and eliminated Mookie Betts (Dodgers), who concluded his performance with 11 home runs, in the first round.
For his part, his compatriot Julio Rodríguez (Marineros) wasted no time in front of his audience in Seattle, taking over the stage, hitting 41 home runs to disqualify for the second consecutive year the two-time winner of the MLB home run competition, Pete Alonso (Mets ), who managed to connect 21 flat shots that went over the fence, causing a semifinal of Dominican bats.
Seattle Mariners player made history in the Home Run Derby by breaking the record for home runs hit in a single round.
Rodríguez, who with his 41 home runs surpassed the 40 homer mark in a round that was in the hands of Guerrero Jr., could only hit 20 homers in his semifinal tally.
“It’s spent that I am,” said Rodríguez to highlight his fatigue after his participation in this semi-fund phase.
Guerrero Jr. did not forgive the fact that Rodríguez was at home and hit 21 home runs to qualify for the final, where he emerged victorious.
The All-Star Game, which pits the teams representing the National League and the American League against each other, will be held this Tuesday at this same venue.