Albert Pujols was the sentimental favorite, and Ryan Howard would have loved to have won his second derby title in his hometown of St. Louis. But Home Run Derby night belonged to one of the other slugging first basemen in the National League: Prince Fielder.

The Brewers slugger was the most consistent all night, and beat Nelson Cruz of the Rangers in the final round in a derby that didn't have the tape-measure shots that Josh Hamilton hit last season, but still had some drama.

Fielder's father, Cecil Fielder, finished second in 1991 and participated three times. Prince won in his second try, with his longest homer measuring a healthy 502 feet.

Hamilton and last year's champion, Justin Morneau, each made the AL team but sat out this season. It wasn't exactly a sterling lineup presented by the junior circuit in the derby with injury replacement Cruz, line-drive hitter Joe Mauer, injury replacement Carlos Pena (hitting .228 on the season) and final-vote winner Brandon Inge, who didn't even hit one. Makes you wonder if Pena's inclusion in the derby was part of the deal when he replaced Torii Hunter on the roster, because nobody else wanted to participate. If the AL puts up that kind of effort in the game on Tuesday, their 12-year streak could be history.

The derby results:

First Round

• Nelson Cruz, Texas, 11
• Prince Fielder, Milwaukee, 11
• Ryan Howard, Philadelphia, 7
• Joe Mauer, Minnesota, 5
• Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay, 5
• Albert Pujols, St. Louis, 5
• Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego, 2
• Brandon Inge, Detroit, 0

Swing-off

• Albert Pujols, St. Louis, 2
• Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay, 1
• Joe Mauer, Minnesota, 0

Second Round

• Prince Fielder, Milwaukee, 6 -- 17 total
• Nelson Cruz, Texas, 5 -- 16 total
• Ryan Howard, Philadelphia, 8 -- 15 total
• Albert Pujols, St. Louis, 6 -- 11 total

Finals

• Prince Fielder, Milwaukee, 6
• Nelson Cruz, Texas, 5

Check out the Home Run Derby champs throughout the history of the event, which dates to 1985.

In a little bit of a surprise, Rays manager Joe Maddon selected Roy Halladay as the All-Star Game starter for the AL on Tuesday night, picking him over Zack Greinke of the Royals. "It's very difficult to actually pick that one guy," Maddon said in a news conference Monday. "There's so many qualified pitchers among the group. But based on the body of work, also, I think Doc, over the last several years has demonstrated to be possibly the best pitcher in the American League."

Charlie Manuel went with the consensus pick in the Giants' Tim Lincecum, the reigning Cy Young Award winner.

The lineups:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

1. Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners), right field
2. Derek Jeter (Yankees), shortstop
3. Joe Mauer (Twins), catcher
4. Mark Teixeira (Yankees), first base
5. Jason Bay (Red Sox), left field
6. Josh Hamilton (Rangers), center field
7. Evan Longoria (Rays), third base
8. Aaron Hill (Blue Jays), second base (replacing Dustin Pedroia)
9. Roy Halladay (Blue Jays), pitcher

1. Hanley Ramirez (Marlins), shortstop
2. Chase Utley (Phillies), second base
3. Albert Pujols (Cardinals), first base
4. Ryan Braun (Brewers), right field
5. Raul Ibanez (Phillies), left field
6. David Wright (Mets), third base
7. Shane Victorino (Phillies), center field (replacing Carlos Beltran)
8. Yadier Molina (Cardinals), catcher
9. Tim Lincecum (Giants), pitcher

Click here for the full rosters.

The first half of the baseball season is in the books, and it's been eventful.

A few highlights, in haiku form:

Manny took bad stuff

That dirty test hurt his rep

But Dodgers aren't blue

Another:

Homers soar from Busch

Along with singles, doubles

Pujols is awesome

Shifting to the AL:

Empty seats in Bronx

Yet seats are full at Fenway

Great East race coming

And one more:

That's enough poetry. Check out the top 10 stories from the first half and the top 10 surprises. And we'd like your take on the first half, too, along with a prediction or two for the rest of the season. (Rhyming and meter optional.)

If you've got tickets to the All-Star Game, or are just looking to hang out in St. Louis for all the festivities, check out St. Louis guide David O'Brien's coverage for all the updates and places to go all week.

There's the Fan Fest and plenty of other events in one of the sport's great cities. Security, family events, where to eat - David's got it covered. The Home Run Derby is Monday, and the game is Tuesday at Busch Stadium.