2011 MLB All-Star Game: Power Hitting Returns to Midsummer Classic

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It had been three years since a ball had left the yard during the Midsummer Classic until Boston Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez smacked a home run to right field to give the American League a 1-0 lead over the National League.

And that was seemingly just the beginning of the fireworks at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on Tuesday. Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder followed up Gonzalez's fourth inning homer with one of his own in the bottom of the frame, a three-run shot to deep center-left field to shift the scoreboard in the NL's favor, 3-1.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina nearly joined the power party in the bottom of the sixth inning when he stroked a long double that bounced off the left field fence. Had that ball left the yard, it would have easily been the biggest surprise of this year's All-Star Game.

It's only fitting that the All-Star Game's home run drought, which extends back to the 2008 edition, would be halted by two of the chief participants in this year's Home Run Derby.

Gonzalez fared much better than did Fielder in Monday night's festivities, finishing as the runner-up behind New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano while smacking 31 balls out of the yard along the way while Fielder finished in a tie for third with just nine dingers.

Though, if you factor in the five balls that Fielder knocked out of the yard in a swing-off after the first round, that total balloons to 14.

Either way, it's a thrill to finally see some hitters flex their muscle in the Midsummer Classic once again. As exciting as stolen bases and "small ball" in a close game may be, there's nothing quite like a home run to get fans excited about the All-Star Game once again.

—Josh Martin

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