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Sosa slams 600th homer against Cubs

Sammy Sosa became the fifth member of the 600-homer club on Wednesday, hitting a solo shot in the fifth inning of Texas' 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs, his former team.

Playing for the Rangers after a year out of baseball, Sosa homered off Jason Marquis (5-4) to join Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays in the elite group.

Sosa played for the Cubs from 1992-2004, winning the 1998 National League MVP award and making seven All-Star teams while hitting 545 homers with Chicago.

It was Sosa's 12th homer in 62 games this season. He hit his first big league homer with the Rangers in 1989. Sosa has homered against every major league team in his career.

Sosa, who had gone off the boil after reaching No. 598, hit a solo home run off Jason Marquis in the fifth inning.

He circled the bases to a standing ovation and was called out for a pair of curtain calls.

Sosa started his career with the Rangers but did most of his damage with the Cubs from 1992 to 2004.

"I'm never going to forget this night," Sosa told reporters. "Tonight was something that brings a lot of joy. I'm very thrilled to have that opportunity to come here and hit number 600, especially here."

Sosa joined Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays in the elite 600 club.

The ball, which traveled an estimated 120m, landed in the Texas bullpen in right centerfield and was retrieved by reliever Akinori Otsuka.

Frank Catalanotto followed Sosa's blast with the 75th homer of his career to give the Rangers a 6-1 lead.

Blue Jays 12, Dodgers 1

At Toronto, Frank Thomas hit his 497th career home run and Roy Halladay won his third consecutive start for Toronto.

Gregg Zaun and Matt Stairs hit back-to-back homers in the third for the Blue Jays, who scored a season-high eight runs in the second inning.

Thomas had the biggest hit, a grand slam that chased Taiwanese starter Kuo Hong-chih (郭泓志) after one-and-two-third innings. The grand slam was Thomas' second of the season and the 10th of his career.

Marlins 5, White Sox 4

At Chicago, pinch-hitter Jason Wood hit a three-run homer off closer Bobby Jenks in the eighth inning, and Florida dealt Chicago its 19th loss in 24 games.

Chicago starter Jon Garland had given up two hits entering the eighth and the White Sox held a 2-1 lead. Aaron Boone opened the inning with a single and shortstop Juan Uribe made his second error on a bunt to put two on.

Athletics 5, Reds 3

In Oakland, California, Nick Swisher walked with the bases loaded in the seventh to tie the game, then Oakland's Eric Chavez followed with a sacrifice fly.

Dan Haren (9-2) won his ninth straight decision and third consecutive start despite giving up two home runs in a game for the second time this year.

Diamondbacks 7, Devil Rays 4

In Phoenix, Chad Tracy and Eric Byrnes hit three-run homers for Arizona and Micah Owings won his fourth straight decision.

Byrnes went 4-for-5 with a double and two singles. His homer was in the fourth off starter James Shields (6-2). Byrnes matched a franchise mark with hits in seven consecutive at-bats going back to Tuesday night. It's been done three other times. The streak ended with a grounder to the pitcher in the eighth.

Indians 10, Phillies 6

At Cleveland, Casey Blake put Cleveland ahead of Philadelphia with a two-run single in an eight-run sixth inning.

C.C. Sabathia (10-2) pitched six innings and joined Josh Beckett of Boston and John Lackey of the Los Angeles Angels as the majors' only 10-game winners.

Tigers 8, Nationals 4

At Washington, Detroit wrapped up the three-game series by pounding the Washington pitching staff yet again to give Jeremy Bonderman his eighth straight victory.

Detroit, which averaged better than 10 runs in the series, scored five runs in the sixth against Washington's bullpen. Carlos Guillen had two hits, including a home run in the fourth.

Twins 6, Mets 2

At New York, Torii Hunter hit a two-run homer and Scott Baker pitched five effective innings for Minnesota against the New York Mets.

Joe Mauer also drove in two runs for Minnesota, which won two of three in its first series at Shea Stadium since 2002. Baker (2-2) allowed two runs and seven hits.

Red Sox 11, Braves 0

At Atlanta, Julian Tavarez pitched seven scoreless innings for Boston, which homered three times in the first two innings to beat Atlanta.

J.D. Drew homered on the fourth pitch of the game from Buddy Carlyle (1-2). The Red Sox had five homers in all, and 10 of their 15 hits were for extra bases.

Rockies 6, Yankees 1

At Denver, Jeff Francis struck out a career-high nine in seven innings, and Matt Holliday homered and drove in three runs to lead Colorado past New York.

By taking the first two games against the Yankees, the Rockies won a club-record sixth straight series and improved to 8-0-1 in their last nine series, the best stretch in franchise history. They are a major league-best 19-7 since May 22.

Orioles 7, Padres 1

At San Diego, rookie Jeremy Guthrie allowed four hits over eight innings and Baltimore beat San Diego to snap a nine-game losing streak.

It was the first win for interim manager Dave Trembley. He replaced Sam Perlozzo, who was fired on Monday.

Mariners 7, Pirates 0

At Seattle, Jeff Weaver threw a four-hitter as Seattle trounced Pittsburgh to end a six-game losing streak.

Weaver (1-6) entered the game winless in eight starts with a 10.97 ERA. He retired 16 consecutive Pirates at one point and pitched a complete game for the first time in two years. Weaver struck out a season-high five and walked two.

Angels 8, Astros 4

At Anaheim, California, Vladimir Guerrero's three-run homer was the only hit in Los Angeles' six-run seventh inning.

Cardinals 7, Royals 6, 14 innings

At St. Louis, Ryan Ludwick homered leading off the bottom of the 14th inning as St. Louis edged Kansas City.

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