Rangers' Josh Hamilton wins hearts, loses HR derby to Twins' Justin Morneau

NEW YORK — Josh Hamilton dreamed it. Now he's done it.

With a dazzling display of power Monday night, the Texas Rangers slugger hit a record 28 homers in the first round of the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium before he was beaten by Minnesota's Justin Morneau in the finals.

Morneau beat a tired Hamilton 5-3 in the last round. But the night belonged to Hamilton.

Back from drug and alcohol addiction that derailed his career, Hamilton broke Bobby Abreu's mark for one round. Abreu hit 24 home runs in the first round in 2005 in Detroit.

Hamilton had a vivid dream two years ago, while he was still banned from Major League Baseball. In the dream, he was being interviewed at Yankee Stadium after participating in the Home Run Derby.

"I can say it was a coincidence, but I don't believe in those," he said. "I just feel blessed to have played here."

With the crowd of 53,716 chanting his name, Hamilton connected on 13 consecutive cuts in the first round before falling short of the fences on his final two.

"I got chills," he said.

He hit three shots farther than 500 feet, including one estimated at 518 that was the third-longest in the 19-year history of the derby.

Hamilton's 28 homers in the first round would have been the second-highest total for an entire derby, behind Abreu's 41 for Philadelphia in 2005.

Hamilton finished with 35 total homers to Morneau's 22, and the Texas outfielder stopped after making only four outs in the second round because he was already assured a spot in the finals. Contestants get 10 outs in each round.

Hamilton's batting practice pitcher also was quite a story. The slugger chose 71-year-old Clay Council, who often threw BP to Hamilton when he was a teenager in North Carolina.

Bonds' playing

prospects "bleak"

NEW YORK — Barry Bonds, baseball's career home-run leader, has not received a single offer from a major-league team, agent Jeff Borris said Monday. He dismissed recent reports of interest from Arizona, the New York Mets and Boston.

"I'm an optimistic guy by nature," Borris said, "and I've told Barry that the prospects look bleak."

Bonds, who turns 44 in two weeks, led the majors last season with a .480 on-base percentage. He finished the year with 762 career home runs and became a free agent when San Francisco re-sign him.

"No one is even asking about him," Borris said. "I think that's a pathetic way for him to go out."

Bonds was indicted last November on charges he lied when he told a grand jury in 2003 he didn't knowingly use performance-enhancing drugs. A trial is scheduled next year in San Francisco.

Notes

• Cleveland left-hander Cliff Lee and Milwaukee right-hander Ben Sheets will start tonight's All-Star Game.

• A sweat-stained cap worn by Babe Ruth, one of only three Yankees hats in existence worn by Ruth during games, was auctioned for a record $328,000.

• Red Foley, 79, a sports writer for the New York Daily News for 34 years and the most celebrated official scorer of his time, died in New York.

• Washington outfielder Wily Mo Pena will have surgery, probably next week, on his left shoulder.