Kimberly White / Reuters

Vladimir Guerrero, center, is congratulated after hitting in the first round of the Home Run Derby.

Bonds claimed the toll from an afternoon’s swings would be too exhausting and disruptive before Tuesday’s game, when he’ll start in left field and bat second for the NL squad. The 14-time All-Star hit a handful of homers during batting practice for the thousands of fans who showed up two hours early for the derby.

The sluggers started slowly: Three batters held the first-round lead with five homers apiece, the lowest leading total in the first round since the derby went to a three-round format in 1995.

Defending champion Ryan Howard, who managed just three homers, hit a 410-foot shot that died in the 421-foot corner of right-center, prompting him to rip off his hat in mock frustration.

“It’s a tough thing to do,” Howard said of the dearth of splash hits. “I don’t think any guys were trying to yank it down there. Guys are just trying to stay with their natural swing.”

Minnesota’s Justin Morneau, Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder, Detroit’s Magglio Ordonez and Howard were eliminated in the first round.

Rios hit five consecutive homers on his last swing in the second round to finish with 17 over the first two rounds, pushing him past Colorado’s Matt Holliday. Guerrero followed with nine second-round homers to eliminate Holliday — including that 503-foot shot to a previously unexplored area.

Albert Pujols, who hasn’t homered for the Cardinals since June 14 during the longest drought of his career, finished one homer shy of the finalists.

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