Cespedes wins Home Run Derby

NEW YORK - Oakland Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes did not earn an all-star berth, but he hit like a star in the Home Run Derby. Cespedes beat Washington outfielder Bryce Harper in the final to win Monday's competition at Citi Field.

In the third and final round, Cespedes hit nine home runs to eight for Harper to win the event. Cespedes clinched the win with a shot to deep center. He still had five of his 10 outs remaining when he clinched it.

The finalists advanced with the highest cumulative total in the first two rounds.

Cespedes put on a show in the first round with 17 home runs. Also advancing to the second round were Baltimore's Chris Davis and Harper with eight homers, and Colorado's Michael Cuddyer with seven.

"During the first round when I took my first five swings, I felt I was into a rhythm," Cespedes, a native Cuban, said through an interpreter. "I felt I could put on a show."

Eliminated in the first round were Pittsburgh's Pedro Alvarez (six homers), Detroit's Prince Fielder (five), National League captain and crowd favorite David Wright (five) of the New York Mets, and Robinson Cano (four) of the New York Yankees.

Cano, the 2011 Home Run Derby champion, was the American League captain.

Davis, the major-league home run leader with 37, was eliminated after hitting just four homers in the second round. Also eliminated was Cuddyer, who totaled 15 home runs in the first two rounds.

Harper hit a total of 16 in the first two rounds to earn his place in the final against Cespedes, who swatted six in the second round and 32 for the evening.