Morneau lasts for a while

After hitting four homers in the first round of Home Run Derby and figuring his night was over, the Twins slugger suddenly was in a tiebreaker, which he lost 2-1 to Albert Pujols.

By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune

Last update: July 10, 2007 - 12:00 AM

SAN FRANCISCO Justin Morneau assumed he was finished with baseball's annual Home Run Derby when he managed only four homers in the first round Monday night.

The Twins first baseman said he was surprised to realize he was headed for a tiebreaker with Albert Pujols.

On a ho-hum night that produced zero splash hits into McCovey Cove, Pujols eliminated Morneau in the tiebreaker and then got eliminated himself, as Vladimir Guerrero won the deciding round 3-2 over Alex Rios at AT&T Park.

Morneau was randomly picked to bat first among the eight contestants. About 90 minutes later, he managed only one home run in five swings in the tiebreaker. Pujols, the 2003 runner-up in this event, homered on his next two swings, ending Morneau's night.

"I did not think I was going hit again, so I just sat there, which is probably my own fault," Morneau said. "I had to get up and try to get loose, and by the time I got loose, my round was over."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire served as Morneau's pitcher, and the talk about the cutting movement of Gardenhire's batting practice fastball proved a non-factor.

Morneau watched 10 of Gardenhire's pitches, swatted four for home runs and made 10 outs -- which, under Derby rules, is any swing that doesn't result in a homer.

"The ones I took were the ones right down the middle," Morneau said. "I never got into a rhythm."

Much of the pre-Derby talk centered on the lefthanded hitters swinging for McCovey Cove. Pujols called AT&T Park the toughest National League ballpark for a righthanded hitter.

Alas, the two balls that landed in the cove were foul, including one by Morneau. And all three lefthanded hitters -- Morneau, Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder -- were eliminated in the first round.

"For righties, lefties, it's a big park either way," Morneau said.

Still, Morneau called it a good experience and said he'd do it again someday if asked.

"Yeah," he said, "Hopefully I'll do a little better."

Joe Christensen • jchristensen@startribune.com