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At-bats: McGwire vs. Sosa

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Posted: Monday September 07, 1998 06:46 PM

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his 61st home run on Monday and was 2-for-4 against the Chicago Cubs, while Sammy Sosa was 1-for-4 with a single and three strikeouts. Here is how they fared:

Sosa -- first inning, runner on first and two outs. Received a standing ovation from the road fans, and in response tipped his cap and issued a two-finger salute to McGwire at first base. Many fans remained on their feet throughout the at-bat. Sosa took two fastballs from Darren Oliver, one on the outside corner for a strike and one inside for a ball, before fouling out on an offspeed pitch to McGwire.

McGwire -- first inning, none on and two outs. McGwire also received a standing ovation, but made no response. McGwire had a big cut on a fastball from Mike Morgan for strike one, took a ball high, then drove a towering liner just inside the left-field foul pole and off a window of the Stadium Club high above the wall for home run No. 61, a drive measured at 430 feet that came at 1:22 p.m. CDT. The ball ricocheted straight down into the left-field stands, where a struggle for the ball ensued before Mike Davidson, 28, of St. Louis, ended up with it. Later, Davidson, who was accused by some fans of heaving a child away from the ball, indicated he wanted to give it to McGwire.

Sosa -- third inning, runners on second and third and two outs. Sosa received another standing ovation, softer this time. Ball one was high and way outside. Sosa took a called strike at the knees on a fastball, then ball two on a fastball high and way outside. Sosa fouled strike two far into the stands down the first-base line. He became Oliver's first strikeout victim, checking his swing and taking a slider on the inside corner.

McGwire -- third inning, none on and one out. Morgan asked for a new ball, and Cubs and Cardinals players crowded the top step of the dugout. Ball one was a fastball well outside. Ball two was low. McGwire then sent a ground-ball single to left.

McGwire -- fifth inning, leading off. The crowd was on its feet well before McGwire got set in the batter's box. He popped up on the first pitch to shallow center.

Sosa -- sixth inning, none on and one out. This time, only a handful fans were standing, although many begin to clap rhythmically after ball one was low. Sosa took another low fastball for ball two. He took a big cut for strike one, then fouled a liner into the right-field stands to even the count at 2-2. The count was full after Sosa took a fastball at eye level, and he chased a fastball high and away for strike three.

McGwire -- seventh inning, none on and one out. Fans were back on their feet as McGwire took ball one on an outside fastball. On a checked swing, he fouled one straight back to even the count, then took ball two on a fastball low and outside. The crowd began clapping as McGwire, obviously fooled on an offspeed pitch from Matt Karchner, hit a soft liner to center.

Sosa -- eighth inning, none on and one out. Sosa received another noisy ovation from the crowd, which chanted, "Sam-my! Sam-my! Sam-my!" He took strike one, then took a fastball outside. He fouled the next pitch, also a fastball, off his foot, and took a fastball inside before grounding a single to left. When he got there, he shook hands with McGwire, then the two talked while Glenallen Hill batted.

Sosa -- ninth inning, runner on third and two outs, Cubs trailing 3-2. With the game hanging in the balance, fans were chanting, "Sam-my! Sam-my!" before Sosa stepped in against Juan Acevedo. Ball one was in the dirt. Sosa fouled off a fastball, then took a big cut on a fastball for strike two. He fouled off another fastball before striking out on a fastball on the outside corner.