Tony Overman/The Olympian
Arizona's Luis Gonzalez won Monday night's All-Star Home Run Derby at Safeco Field, hitting six homers in the final round to two for Sammy Sosa of the Cubs. Oaklands' Jason Giambi hit 14 in the first round.

Former Mariner Alex Rodriguez enjoyed his return to Safeco Field for the Home Run Derby.

Photos by Tony Overman/The Olympian
Chicago's Sammy Sosa missed repeating as All-Star Home Run Derby Champion, finishing second to Arizona's Luis Gonzalez on Monday.

Back, back, back. . . Gonzo

Arizona's Gonzalez gets surprising win over Sosa in Home Run Derby

ELLIOTT SMITH, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published July 10

SEATTLE -- Jason Giambi stole the show, but Luis Gonzalez became the unlikely home run king.

Oakland's Giambi hammered a Home Run Derby record 14 home runs in Monday's first round, but the home run power of Gonzalez was too great as the Arizona outfielder upset reigning champion Sammy Sosa in the final round of Monday's Home Run Derby at Safeco Field.

Gonzalez slammed six homers in the last round, while Sosa struggled to hit two, giving the crown to the National League's No. 2 home run hitter.

"This was exciting," Gonzalez said. "I was kind of in a fog, actually, with the last couple of rounds against Barry Bonds and then Sammy Sosa."

Gonzalez has 35 homers through the first half of the season and kept up his pace in his first derby, blasting 16 homers en route to the title.

"I was so nervous to get out there," he said. "But now I can go in the clubhouse with my head held high."

Giambi thrilled the Safeco Field crowd of 46,733 with a record-setting 14 home runs in the first round.

"I was thinking the trophy had his name on it," Gonzalez said. "But he hit them early and then he had to sit for 35 minutes."

Sosa crushed 13 homers in three rounds, including several upper-deck blasts and deep shots to all parts of the stadium, but fell short in the final round.

In the first round, everyone was overshadowed by Giambi's record-setting barrage, but Bonds hit seven homers to finish second, including a titanic 476-foot blast to left -- the longest homer of the event.

Gonzalez cracked five to finish third and Sammy Sosa and Seattle's Bret Boone each hit three to finish in a fourth-place tie.

Sosa advanced to the next round because he had more regular-season home runs than Boone.

It was not a popular position with the partisan Safeco faithful, who booed the decision against their hometown hero.

Former Mariner Alex Rodriguez of Texas finished with two homers, as did Colorado's Todd Helton.

Anaheim's Troy Glaus was the latest victim of the Home Run Derby Jinx, as he went through the first round homerless.

Gonzalez's victory earned fan Tommy Knepp of Potters Hills, Pa. $250,000 toward a new home.

"I hope you invite me to your house," Gonzalez said.

"I have three little ones, so they might demolish it before you get it up."

Elliott Smith covers sports for The Olympian. He can be reached at 754-5473.

Home Run Derby

SEATTLE -- Results Monday of the Home Run Derby at Safeco Field:

First Round Tot Long

Jason Giambi, Oak 14 460

Barry Bonds, SF 7 476

Luis Gonzalez, Ari 5 440

Sammy Sosa, Cubs 3 467

Bret Boone, Sea 3 406

Alex Rodriguez, Tex 2 415

Todd Helton, Col 2 425

Troy Glaus, Ana 0 ---

Second Round Tot Long

Luis Gonzalez, Ari 5 417

Barry Bonds, SF 3 421

Sammy Sosa, Cubs 8 468

Jason Giambi, Oak 6 453

Finals Tot Long

Luis Gonzalez, Ari 6 426

Sammy Sosa, Cubs 2 385

On the web:

John Hancock All-Star FanFest.

MLB.com: All-Star Game 2001

All-Star Game 2001 Player Profiles.

The Olympian Online: Mariners.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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