European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 11, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 38 stars and stripes july 2007 no splash but big blasts for King Vlad after 12 in second runner up Rios runs dry by Greg Beacham the associated press san Francisco Vladimir Guerreros first Home run Derby was hardly Worth the trip to seven years he sup planted Barry Bonds As san fran discos Home run King for a the los Angeles Angels slug Ger won a dry Derby monday beating Toronto Alex Rios 32 in the final round of the Allstar Guerrero managed just two homers in his Only previous Derby appearance Back in but he was the class of an eight Man Field that didst in clude Alex Rodriguez or the giants Star who declined the Chance to participate in his Sev Guerrero finished with 17 Hom including the contests most fearsome shot a 503footer to left that fell just Short of the oversized baseball Mitt looming Over the Outfield bleachers a target that still Hast been hit during a game in the Parks 8year the first time i came in swung at every so you Guerrero said through an i came Back this year with a different i was going to try to take a pitch to rest a Little none of the eight batters Man aged a True splash hit Over the Brightfield Fence and into the waterfront Parks iconic Mccovey dozens of eager fans Wear ing wetsuits and carrying nets amid the flotilla of kayaks and rafts ended up scrambling for just a handful of foul balls and ricochets during nearly six hours of batting practice and Derby slug but the four semifinalists sent balls into every other Corner of a Park that usually a Nightmare for any hitter not named after a slow Start that included the lowest  total in 12 Guerrero and Rios led a second round Guerrero indulged in various shenanigans with his friends and Al teammates during the first two reaping his fingers and getting a Towel Down in the Middle of Competition and when Guerrero failed to Homer on his first three swings in the first David Ortiz made a special the Boston Star charged to Home dramatically tossed away Guerreros Bat and called for a Friend to carry a Large wooden Case to after removing a new Bat from the Ortiz kissed the lumber and presented it to who used it to hit five homers on his next nine it was my and we had it planned if i want doing Well at the he was going to bring it out to said Home run Derby monday at4t Park san Francisco first round Vladimir Angels Matt Alex Albert Justin Prince Ryan Magglin won tiebreaker 21 second round 2r finals Tot Long 463 462 427 435 430 455 477 422 Tot Long 17 452 14 503 13 459 13 475 Tot Long 425 426 who slept late monday to rest up after finishing a nine game Road trip with the Angels in new he was All business in the hovering on his first pitch before finishing it with three swings to Guerrero casually discarded his Bat and didst even watch As his final shot settled in the Loftfield celebrating with his Cousin from the dominican added to the Derby Field on had a remarkable 12homer Binge in the second but lost his swing in the managing just two More to finish with it was the Pitcher just throw ing me the Ball where i Rios i was a Little surprised at How far they i guess i just didst warm up enough before the who just four homers shy of tying Hank Aarons career Homer record of turned Down the Chance to participate in the Homer though he took part in Early batting practice and Jeff los Angeles Angel Vladimir Guerrero watches one of his Home runs in the final round of the Allstar Home run Derby in san Francisco on Guerrero won the Competition with three homers in the final stuck around to watch the Derby with the majors Hom ers Leader with 30 for the Yan Bonds claimed the toll from an afternoons swings would be too exhausting and disruptive before tuesdays when hell Start Kevork in left Field and Bat second for the no the 14time Allstar hit a handful of homers during batting practice for the thousands of fans who showed up two hours Early for the the giants waterfront Park lived up to its Pitcher Friendly reputation in the first defend ing Champion Ryan who managed just three hit a 410foot shot that died in the 421foot Corner of prompting him to rip off his hat in mock its a Tough thing to Howard said of the dearth of splash i dont think any Guys were trying to yank it Down Guys Are just trying to stay with their natural Minnesota Justin Milwaukee Prince de traits Manglio Ordonez and Howard were eliminated in the first Rios hit five consecutive Hom ers on his last swing in the second round to finish with 17 in the first two pushing him past col Ora Dos Matt Guerrero followed with nine second round homers to eliminate Holliday including that 503foot shot to a previously unexplored Albert who Hast Hom ered for the cardinals since june 14 during the longest drought of his finished one Homer fans in Mccovey Cove get one of their few chances to retrieve a Ball during the Home run Derby on shy of the finalists