Photo Courtesy: Buffalo Bisons
(bisons.com) - Buffalo Bisons outfielder Valentino Pascucci was crowned the Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby Champion on Monday night, hitting 22 home runs for a crowd of 17,22 at Coca-Cola Field that chanted his name. Pascucci hit six of those homers in the final round to secure the title over Charlotte's Dan Johnson.
Starting with six sluggers in the Home Run Derby, two remained standing in the final round. Buffalo fan-favorite Pascucci and Johnson each used 13 home runs each in the second round to advance to the finals.
With first at-bats in the finals portion of the Home Run Derby, Johnson - a winner of the 2010 All-Star Derby -hit five home runs.
In his final at bat, Pascucci needed six to capture the Triple-A Home Run Derby Crown. Pascucci took the first three pitches deep with one falling within feet of the centerfield wall. Pascucci followed up with three straight home runs to capture the Home Run Derby Crown with his final ball cruising over the left field net.
Pascucci became the first Bison since third baseman Andy Marte win the Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby in 2006, hosted by Toledo.