Walker triumphs in Philadelphia
Jordan Walker of the Cardinals secured victory in the Home Run Derby, overcoming the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber in the final round. The event took place at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 13. Walker’s win came after a dramatic finish, where he hit four consecutive home runs in “bonus time” to clinch the title.
The final score saw Walker defeat Schwarber 12-11. Schwarber, batting first in the final, hit 11 home runs from his allotted 15 swings. Walker then stepped up, facing a vocal crowd of 43,863 Phillies fans who largely booed him, except when he failed to hit a home run, at which point he received cheers.
With only two swings remaining, Walker had hit just 6 home runs, trailing Schwarber by five. He managed to hit home runs on both of his final two swings, earning bonus swings. In this bonus period, if a player hits a home run on their final swing, they can continue swinging until they make an out. Walker capitalized on this rule, hitting four straight home runs without making an out, ultimately surpassing Schwarber’s total.
Schwarber acknowledged Walker’s performance, stating, “I knew I was in a good position, but I know anything can happen, too. Jordan was unbelievable there, those last – what, he went (4-for-4 in bonus swings). So really, you can’t say enough about how he was able to slow the moment down, and lock it in.” He also noted the crowd’s energy, adding, “All of our fans were roaring, trying to will me to it, and he was able to slow it down and get those swings off.”
Fan atmosphere and player reactions
The atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park was highly charged, with fans vociferously supporting their home team players, Schwarber and Bryce Harper. The six non-Phillies contestants were met with boos upon their introduction, with the loudest jeers reportedly directed at Yankees slugger Ben Rice. Schwarber reflected on the crowd’s intensity, mentioning that the home crowd might have made him too eager in the first round.
Schwarber recounted the experience: “The first round, just stepping out there, I was way too amped up. I could feel it from the first pitch. I was just trying to go get it, and I was like, ‘Ah, man, I gotta slow this down a bit because I’m way too amped up.’ (The fans) were electric all night.” He also shared how other players commented on the “hometown cooking” of the Philadelphia fans.
Walker, wearing his Cardinals hat backward and a leather jacket after his win, described the Philadelphia crowd as “brutal” but also acknowledged their passion. He stated, “I mean, honestly. But I think it’s pretty special because they love their players and that’s what you want from your home, like, where you play.” He added, “I can’t hate them, because that’s their guy, so I just got to play the game.”
Derby format and earlier rounds
This year’s Home Run Derby featured a revamped format, moving away from a timed clock to a swing-based system. Each hitter received 20 swings in the first round, with the top four advancing. In the second round, players had 15 swings, and similar to the final, hitting a home run on the final swing allowed them to continue until an out was made.
In the first round, Willson Contreras of the Red Sox set a high bar with 13 home runs, including three that traveled over 480 feet, with his longest at 490 feet. Walker also hit 13 home runs in the first round, tying Contreras for the lead. Junior Caminero of the Rays hit 12 home runs, while Munetaka Murakami had 9, Jac Caglianone had 8, and Ben Rice finished with 7.
Schwarber initially struggled in the first round, missing on his first five swings before hitting four in a row, eventually finishing with 10 home runs to secure the fourth spot and advance. Harper, despite winning the 2018 derby, finished with 8 home runs and did not advance to the semifinals.
In the semifinals, Schwarber faced Contreras, hitting 9 home runs to Contreras’s 8, securing his place in the final. Walker advanced by defeating Caminero 6-5. Caminero had the longest home run of the night in the semifinals, a 491-foot shot, surpassing Contreras’s 490-foot hit from the first round.
The event marked the first Home Run Derby and All-Star Game held at Citizens Bank Park since its opening in 2004. This year’s Derby was also broadcast on Netflix as part of a three-event package, with the next event being the Field of Dreams game between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies on August 13.
Read Also
Source: eu.delawareonline.com
