St. Louis, MO -- (Sports Network) - Milwaukee first baseman Prince Fielder captured the 2009 Home Run Derby, beating Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz in the final round Monday night at Busch Stadium.

The 25-year-old Fielder became the first player from the Brewers to win the competition, held in advance of Tuesday's All-Star Game. He had six homers in the final round to five for Cruz.

Fielder, who will be on the field Tuesday as an All-Star for the second time in his career, participated in the 2007 Derby and was eliminated in the first round. He has already established a new franchise record with 78 RBI prior to the All-Star break, and showed great power with his left-handed swing Monday night, clubbing the longest homer, measured at 503 feet in the second round.

"I was just happy to be able to put on a show and glad I won," said Fielder.

Fielder's father, Cecil, was in the Home Run Derby in 1990, '91 and '93.

Cruz was attempting to become the second Texas player to win the event.

St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols, who went into the All-Star break leading the majors with 32 homers, nearly didn't make it out of the first round of eight competitors at his own ballpark. Each batter was given 10 outs in the round and the slugger hit just three homers with only one out remaining. Pujols then clubbed a pair over the wall to force a swing-off and hit two more to eliminate Minnesota's Joe Mauer and Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena to advance to the second round.

Cruz and Fielder hit 11 homers apiece in the first round, a far cry from the record 28 Texas' Josh Hamilton had last year. Hamilton lost to Minnesota's Justin Morneau in the final round.

Because the homers from the first and second rounds were totaled to determine the final two participants, Pujols was quickly eliminated. He hit six in the second round, but the 11 total was well behind three other players.

"This is Albert's stadium. It was kind of cool to see how the fans love him being here. I wouldn't expect anything less," said Fielder.

Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, a native of St. Louis and the 2006 champion, had 15 total homers, but was eliminated when Fielder eclipsed him.

Fielder led the way with 17 homers going to the final round, while Cruz had 16. Fielder totaled 23 homers for the night, while Cruz had 21.

Cruz, named as an injury replacement for the All-Star Game, went first in the final, but Fielder got off to a smashing start and slowed. With three outs remaining, he belted a ball over the wall in center field, clinching the victory.

The final participants both broke into the majors with the Brewers in 2005.

"It was a lot of fun," said Fielder. "It's kind of weird. You never figure to have a home run derby against your former teammate, especially me and him. It was pretty cool."

At the end of the competition, Fielder said he used the bat of teammate Ryan Braun in the final round. Fielder said he's switched between the bats of Braun and teammate Rickie Weeks, and hasn't used his own bat probably since May.

San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hit two homers in the first round, while Detroit third baseman Brandon Inge was shut out, becoming the first player to have no homers in the opening round since Jason Bay for Pittsburgh in 2005.