It’s a Record Effort for Phillies’ Abreu

Bobby Abreu hit 24 home runs in the first round, six in the second, 11 in the third and 41 overall Monday night at Comerica Park to win the home run derby. His first-round, championship-round and overall total, were competition records.

The left-handed-hitting Philadelphia Phillie outfielder defeated Ivan Rodriguez in the final round, when Rodriguez, the favorite among Detroit Tiger fans, hit five.

Hee-Seop Choi of the Dodgers hit five home runs in the first round and was eliminated. He finished ahead of Mark Teixeira, who hit two, and Jason Bay, who was homerless.

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Garret Anderson of the Angels chartered a flight to Detroit. On it were his father and mother, his wife and three children, his brother, a cousin and his wife, and a handful of other children.

Vladimir Guerrero and Bartolo Colon came in on a second charter.

Anderson’s brother, Charles, is a youth counselor at Pacoima Middle School. “It’s impressive,” Garret said of his brother’s work.

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Dodger shortstop Cesar Izturis, on the disabled list because of a sore hamstring, said he expected to be activated Friday when he is eligible.

He continued his rehabilitation exercises while in Detroit. His mother, Elidez, and younger brother, Julio, were also in Detroit.

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St. Louis Cardinal third baseman Scott Rolen, voted in as a starter, decided Sunday afternoon to rest his ailing shoulder. NL officials rushed to add Houston Astro third baseman Morgan Ensberg, who, previously snubbed, had made plans to spend the break in Lake Tahoe. It wasn’t until batting practice Sunday -- the Cardinals and Giants played Sunday night -- that NL Manager Tony La Russa got word of Ensberg’s confirmation. He was handed a note that read, “Ensberg OK.” ... Dontrelle Willis, on the lure of the World Baseball Classic: “Well, I just hope I make the team, to be honest.” ... Choi had written out his comments after the home run derby and gamely read them before a crowd of reporters and baseball officials. “It’s good for my country,” he read. When he was through, many in the room applauded his effort.... La Russa chose Chris Carpenter over Willis, he said, in part to take advantage of the Willis-Paul Lo Duca battery. Mike Piazza starts at catcher for the NL.... Asked why he chose the Dominican Manny Ramirez over other Dominicans to bat cleanup, AL Manager Terry Francona said, “We didn’t base the lineup on nationality, that’s for sure. We would have had an Italian leading off.” ... Monday night’s attendance for batting practice and the home run derby: 41,004.... Ramirez, Roger Clemens, Shea Hillenbrand and Alfonso Soriano were the media-day no-shows. Generally, that comes with a $20,000 fine.

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THE FACTS

* What: 76th All-Star game, National League vs. American League. NL leads series, 40-33-2.

* When: Tonight, 5, Channel 11.

* Where: Comerica Park, Detroit.

* Managers: Tony La Russa, St. Louis, National League;

Terry Francona, Boston, American League.

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Record breaker

Bobby Abreu broke the record for home runs hit at an All-Star home run derby:

*--* No Player Team Year 41 Bobby Abreu Philadelphia 2005 27 Miguel Tejada Baltimore 2004 26 Albert Pujols St. Louis 2003 26 Sammy Sosa Chicago (NL) 2000

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*--* HOME RUN DERBY CHAMPIONS Year Winner Team Stadium 2005 Bobby Abreu Philadelphia Comerica Park 2004 Miguel Tejada Baltimore Minute Maid Park 2003 Garret Anderson Angels U.S. Cellular Field 2002 Jason Giambi New York (AL) Miller Park 2001 Luis Gonzalez Arizona Safeco Field 2000 Sammy Sosa Chicago (NL) Turner Field 1999 Ken Griffey Jr. Seattle Fenway Park 1998 Ken Griffey Jr. Seattle Coors Field 1997 Tino Martinez New York (AL) Jacobs Field 1996 Barry Bonds San Francisco Veterans Stadium 1995 Frank Thomas Chicago (AL) Ballpark in Arlington 1994 Ken Griffey Jr. Seattle Three Rivers 1993 Juan Gonzalez Texas Camden Yards 1992 Mark McGwire Oakland Jack Murphy 1991 Cal Ripken Baltimore SkyDome 1990 Ryne Sandberg Chicago (NL) Wrigley Field

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