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Posted at 7:56 p.m., Monday, July 2, 2007

MLB: Phils' Howard to defend Home Run Derby title

By Erik Matuszewski
Bloomberg News Service

Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies will defend his title at Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby even though the reigning National League Most Valuable Player wasn't selected for the All-Star Game.

Howard said yesterday he would participate in the July 9 home-run hitting contest, which is held the day before baseball's All-Star Game at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Howard, 27, ranks sixth in the majors with 19 homers this season even though he missed two weeks in May with a strained left quadriceps. He won last year's Home Run Derby at Pittsburgh's PNC Park, beating David Wright of the New York Mets in the final round.

"It was fun last year and an honor to be invited back, whether I'm on the (All-Star) team or not," Howard told reporters yesterday, according to MLB.com.

Howard will be joined in this year's Home Run Derby field by Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers and Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins, the reigning American League MVP.

Fielder has 27 homers, one behind Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees for the major-league lead, and was voted the starting first baseman for the NL All-Star team. Morneau is second in the American League to Rodriguez with 20 home runs.

Other possible participants include Rodriguez, David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox, Ken Griffey Jr. of the Cincinnati Reds and Barry Bonds of the hometown San Francisco Giants.