Sammy slams No. 63

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Thursday, September 17, 1998

BY BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer

Sammy Sosa belts a grand slam in the eighth inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

SAN DIEGO -- Sammy Sosa matched Mark McGwire in grand slammin' style. Sosa hit his 63rd home run, a tiebreaking grand slam in the eighth inning, and drove in all of Chicago's runs as the Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 6-3 Wednesday night.

Sosa, who hit a bases-loaded double in the seventh, helped the Cubs hold their half-game lead over New York in the NL wild-card race.

"It was something exciting, I have to say, especially with the game on the line," Sosa said. "I never thought I would get No. 63 with the bases loaded. Whatever happens from now on is a gift." Sosa and McGwire, tied for the most home runs in a season, each have nine games left.

"I think 62, 63 are pretty good for me," Sosa said. "Now I want to take my team to the playoffs."

"Right now, I feel great," he said. "The game tonight was unbelievable."

With flashbulbs popping and most of the crowd of 49,891 on its feet, Sosa drove a 93 mph fastball from Brian Boehringer into the second deck in left field with two outs.

Only 22 home runs have been hit to that level, including seven this year -- one by McGwire. The St. Louis slugger parked his 43rd homer 458 feet from home plate on July 20, also off Boehringer.

Sosa acknowledges the cheers as he heads to the dugout. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Sosa had tied McGwire at 62 Sunday when he connected twice in a stunning performance at Wrigley Field. That gave him four homers in three days.

McGwire went back ahead when he hit his 63rd when he pinch-hit for the Cardinals in ninth inning of the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday night.

The crowd went wild when Sosa's ball settled inside the foul pole, setting off a mad scramble for the souvenir, and he was summoned back onto the field for a curtain call. Mark Grace stepped out of the batter's box and Boehringer stepped off the mound during the ovation.

The cheering continued after the inning ended, and Sosa doffed his cap to the crowd when he went to right field. He tied a career high with six RBIs in a game, and took over the major league lead with 154 RBIs this season.

Sosa hit the third grand slam of his career, all of them this season. None of his first 246 homers in the majors were slams -- of his last 24 home runs, three have come with the bases loaded.

Sosa put the Cubs ahead 2-0 in the seventh. He finished 3-for-5 with six RBIs as Chicago won its second in a row and fourth in five games. He had been 1-for-9 with six strikeouts in the first two games of the series.

Sosa also came up with the bases loaded and none out in the seventh, lining a pitch from Joey Hamilton to left field to score Terry Mulholland (5-5) and Lance Johnson, both of whom singled.

Sosa hit an infield single in the first.

Sosa is mobbed by teammates. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Sosa came into the series hitting .353 lifetime against the Padres, and his 22 homers against them are now his most against any team.

Before the game, Sosa was relaxed as he met with the media on the field. He had been holding pregame news conferences in the Chargers' locker room at Qualcomm Stadium, but wanted a change of scenery after striking out four times Monday night and twice while going 1-for-5 on Tuesday.

He said he spoke with his mother by telephone from the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night and she told him: "It's OK. Don't worry. Tomorrow is another day. Be patient. Take your time."

When reporters ran out of questions, Sosa said: "Don't go -- you have any more questions?"

Someone asked Sosa what question he might have for the media. He thought for a minute, looking up at the sky at one point, and said: "I know -- what did Mark McGwire do today? Did he get 64?"

He didn't, so the two are tied. Sosa will have a chance to jump ahead today when he faces rookie Stan Spencer. The Cardinals are off today.

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