Ridling wins Home Run Derby

Peoria's Rebel Ridling blasted 12 home runs, including five in the final round, to capture the Midwest League Home Run Derby title during All-Star Monday at Clinton's Alliant Energy Field.

Ridling, who is batting .264 with eight homers and 45 RBIs in 69 games with the Chiefs this season, connected for three long balls in the opening round and four in the second before pulling away from the field of 13 sluggers with his final display of power.

The Oklahoma State product beat out Wisconsin's Brett Lawrie only three outs into his last turn before adding three more roundtrippers for good measure.

Lawrie, who had gone deep twice in each of the first two rounds, homered only once in the finals.

Great Lakes shortstop Dee Gordon, who is batting .308 with a homer and 18 RBIs, won the Skills Contest with a pair of three-point bunts in the sudden-death round.

Gordon, the Dodgers' fourth-round pick in 2008, scored 19 points on throws from his position before besting Cedar Rapids' Alexi Amarista, Clinton's Terry Serrano and Clinton's Nate Tenbrink in the four-way bunt battle.

The league leader with 40 steals rolled his final two bunts into the three-point circle, giving him the first-ever Skills title.

Ridling and Gordon were both presented with a 2009 Midwest League All-Star Jacket, courtesy of Nike, and a Fossil watch on behalf of Don's Jewelry in Clinton.

The festivities will continue with the 45th Midwest League All-Star Game on Tuesday.