Fielder captures 2012 MLB Home Run Derby title

Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder is the 2012 MLB Home Run Derby champion.

Fielder became the first player to win the Derby representing both the American and National leagues as he turned it on in the last two rounds, beating Toronto slugger Jose Bautista 12-7 in the final to become champion.

Fielder is just the second player to win the Home Run Derby twice, joining future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., who won it three times.

Fielder opened with a 441-foot shot on his first swing and then obliterated one 476 feet to right-center. His third swing went out, as well. After his first out, he bent one inside the pole down the right field line for another.

With only one out, Fielder had cranked eight home runs before making his second out. After two consecutive outs, Fielder hit one that hit the top of the fence and was called an out. In response, Fielder put one out 428 feet away from the plate. His next, his 10th, barely cleared the wall, but it did, and still went more than 400 feet.

His 11th, and 27th total, went more than 440 feet. With six outs, Fielder had hit 12 home runs. That would be his last, as his next four swings were outs, finishing with 12 home runs.

With a lot of ground to make up, Bautista homered on his first swing before making two straight outs. He homered on his next swing, barely clearing the wall, before going out to the same area on his next one, but it only had warning track power. With four outs, Bautista went 438 feet deep and hit his fourth with a 420-foot shot. He hit a line drive out for his fifth out and then barely cleared the wall again on a liner for his fifth home run, putting him seven back of Fielder with five outs to go.

Bautista would pick up two straight outs before hitting another one out. His pitcher jammed him inside for out No. 8, giving him two outs to hit seven dingers to win.

Bautista lined out to left for out No. 9, bringing the crowd to its feet. Bautista, as he did often, took several pitches before taking his next swing, a long and high shot down the left field line. His next swing was his last, as he popped it up, giving Fielder the title.