Ortiz bests Ramirez in Home Run Derby

ANAHEIM, Calif., July 12 (UPI) -- David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox won Monday's 2010 Home Run Derby, outslugging Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, 11-5 in the final round.

The contest is held annually the day before the All-Star Game. This year's contest at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., saw the Red Sox designated hitter blast eight homers in the first round and 13 more in Round 2 before launching 11 in the final frame.

Ortiz, who took part in the Home Run Derby from 2004-06, became the first Red Sox player to win the competition. The victory spotlighted a comeback by "Big Papi," whose slow start this season had some believing his career was over.

Since then, however, he has rebounded to hit 18 homers at the All-Star break.

Ramirez matched Ortiz for power over the first two rounds, with nine homers in Round 1 and 12 more in the next frame. But he could manage just five long balls in the final round.

Milwaukee's Corey Hart hit 13 homers, Detroit's Miguel Cabrera had nine and St. Louis' Matt Holliday hit five. The Yankees' Nick Swisher hit four while Toronto's Vernon Wells had two and Arizona's Chris Young managed only one.