ST. LOUIS -- After Brandon Inge had taken five or six swings in Monday's Home Run Derby, his son Tyler turned to Curtis Granderson on the sideline and said, "Daddy's not hitting any home runs."Getting shut out -- that's right, 10 outs and no home runs, did not at all dampen Inge's night.
Inge hit 13 fewer homers than Albert Pujols. And smiled about 100 times more often.
"My number was actually 15," he said, meaning what he expected would be needed in the first round to advance.
"I almost got that. Almost."
After spending all day telling everyone he had no chance in the Derby, Inge lived up to his prediction.
"I'm the smallest guy, probably ever, out here," said Inge, who has 21 homers for the Tigers but became the first slugger shut out at the Derby since Jason Bay in 2005.
Inge said he just never could get in a homer groove with his swing.
"The very last ball I hit -- it was foul, I didn't care about that -- but that's the one where I was like, 'Aww, I felt it finally.' Good thing it was the stinking 10th out.
"That's the hard part, finding the first one. ... I couldn't find it. I couldn't find the rhythm."
But he kept his sense of humor.
When Boston ace Josh Beckett saw Inge being interviewed, he needled Inge -- who shot back, "I'm saving it for you."
And when asked about the music being played in the stadium as he hit, Inge said, "I didn't hear any music when I was hitting. All I heard was, 'Two outs. Three outs. Five outs.' "
Inge said he'd keep the bat he used – "I'm going to retire that sucker" -- along with his memories.
"Regardless of what happened, I really didn't care, I'd do it again in a heartbeat," he said. "In a heartbeat. I'm asking to do it again. They'd probably [say], 'Well, you don't raise any money for our charity.' "
Home Run Derby Photos
National League's Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals hits during first round of the MLB baseball Home Run Derby in St. Louis, Monday, July 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
AP
Seven-year-old Olivia Joslin looks through gates at Busch Stadium following the MLB baseball Home Run Derby in St. Louis, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
AP
Milwaukee Brewers' Prince Fielder of the National League holds his trophy after winning Major League Baseball's annual Home Run Derby during All-Star game festivities in St. Louis July 13, 2009. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES SPORT BASEBALL IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Reuters
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 13: Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals gets a microphone attached to his jersey before the 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby on July 13, 2009 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Angeles/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Albert Pujols
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 13: Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the final round of the 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby on July 13, 2009 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Prince Fielder
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 13: Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the final round of the 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby on July 13, 2009 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Prince Fielder
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 13: Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals stands on the field during the 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby on July 13, 2009 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Albert Pujols
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 13: Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals bats during the first round of the 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby on July 13, 2009 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Albert Pujols
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 13: David Wright of the New York Mets sits on the field during the 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby on July 13, 2009 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Wright
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 13: Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees pose on the field during the 2009 Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on July 13, 2009 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Teixeira;Derek Jeter
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