Schwarber falls to Pujols in first round of Home Run Derby

Middletown’s Kyle Schwarber lost to St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols in the first round of the Home Run Derby on Monday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Pujols, the No. 8 seed, hit first and slugged 13 home runs. Schwarber, the No. 2 seed, matched Pujols with 13. They went to a one-minute swing-off, which Pujols won.

Schwarber, who made his first Home Run Derby appearance since 2018 when he finished second to Bryce Harper, doffed his cap and bowed repeatedly in tribute to Pujols after the round. The players then hugged.

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Pujols, 42, made his fifth Home Run Derby appearance. Pujols ranks fifth in baseball history with 685 career home runs. Schwarber, 29, has 182 home runs in eight seasons.

Schwarber ranks second in baseball in home runs (29) at the All-Star break in his first season with the Philadelphia Phillies, who signed him in March to a four-year, $79 million free-agent contract. He trails the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, who has 33.