Log Cabin Democrat Sports: Mac gets two, Sosa one in Cardinals' 8-6 victory 8/20/98

Published Thursday, August 20, 1998

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Thursday, August 20, 1998Mac gets two, Sosa one in Cardinals' 8-6 victory

Last modified at 11:47 a.m. on Thursday, August 20, 1998

By RICK HUMMEL

Scripps Howard News Service

CHICAGO -- At the end of May, Mark McGwire was 14 home runs ahead of Sammy Sosa, 27-13. But on Wednesday, for the first time this season, Sosa passed McGwire. For about an hour.

The Chicago Cubs outfielder took over the major-league home-run lead at 48 with a fifth-inning drive off Cardinals starter Kent Bottenfield. But McGwire, homerless in 20 previous at-bats, tied Sosa -- and the game -- in the eighth. He then passed Sosa and won the game in the 10th with his 49th homer of the season as the Cardinals overcame the Cubs 8-6.

After a couple days of being off the pace, McGwire has caught Roger Maris with 49 homers in 124 games. Maris, on his way to the season home-run record of 61 in 1961, had 49 after 124 games and 50 after 125.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said, ''What a thrill to be at the park as a fan or a teammate to see both those guys come through.''

The Cardinals have 38 games to play and the Cubs 36. For McGwire to break the record he would have to hit 13 homers, which is a pace of 55 over a whole season. ''That's the way it's perceived through the public eye -- that this record is going to be broken,'' McGwire said. ''If it (isn't), it will be interesting to see how it will be written.''

McGwire's 49th homer created the 49th multiple-homer game of his career. Ray Lankford then hit his 23rd in the 10th, also against loser Terry Mulholland. The Cubs reliever might have had other things on his mind because his father is in a coma in a Pennsylvania hospital.

Chicago manager Jim Riggleman said, ''It wouldn't have broken my heart if (McGwire) would have walked. But it would be putting the lead run on with Ray Lankford up and Ray has hurt us a lot.''

McGwire's next home run will be his 50th, which would make him the first player in history to have three successive years of 50 or more home runs.

''It will mean a lot,'' McGwire said. ''It will be quite a feat.''

La Russa said, ''Imagine that. By yourself. In that one line. McGwire.''

McGwire has said the chase to the home-run record really isn't on until somebody gets to 50. ''That's when you guys are going to have to ask some really good questions because you've been wasting them the last six months,'' he said, jokingly.

McGwire flied deep to left and popped up in his first two at-bats -- both on first pitches. He said he wasn't dissatisfied with those swings and, in fact, said he had felt good for the first time in a while. ''I knew I was getting close,'' he said.

''I'm not as tired. I'm getting pitches to hit. It's a matter of centering the ball. And I got two balls to hit today.

''It's a tough thing to do when everybody wants it to be done. But Sammy hit 20 in June. You've got to get hot. If you get hot, it can be done.''

McGwire said a positive attitude and confidence have been and will be critical elements.

''You have to be confident in what you do or this game of baseball will whip you in a heartbeat,'' McGwire said. ''Once in a while, everybody gets down on themselves in the game of baseball, but you've got to stay positive.''

The scrutiny in the last six weeks will grow even more intense, and McGwire says he is ready for it.

(Rick Hummel writes for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.)

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