CHICAGO - Some of the biggest cheers Saturday afternoon were reserved for a squirrel that ran loose around Wrigley Field in the fifth and eighth innings. Pirates right fielder Rob Mackowiak could sympathize with the furry creature. In the third inning, he looked just as lost trying to track Sammy Sosa's fly ball. The ball landed over Mackowiak's head and went for an inside-the-park home run, the second of Sosa's career. A strong wind was blowing out to right field, but Mackowiak said he lost the ball in the sun as soon as Sosa hit it. 'I'm sure the wind made it go farther, but I never saw the ball,' Mackowiak said. 'It could have hit me on the top of the head, I wouldn't have been able to catch it.' Mackowiak broke in for the ball when, in truth, it was heading for the right field corner. Mackowiak circled toward the foul line before retreating for the ball. 'I felt as dumb as it looked,' Mackowiak said. Sosa had to earn his 63rd home run. He sprinted around the bases and slid in ahead of the relay throw to catcher Humberto Cota. 'As good of a player as Sammy is, that was a perfect example to young players on how to go about your business,' Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. 'He ran hard and put himself in the position to get an inside-the-park home run.' Coincidentally, Sosa's first inside-the-park shot also came at the Pirates' expense. On May 26, 1997, he hit one at Three Rivers Stadium against Francisco Cordova. Sosa finished with three RBI, giving him 158 and tying his career high. That total ranks fourth in National League history. Sosa also has 303 combined runs and RBI. That's the most by any player since Ted Williams had 159 RBI and scored 150 runs in 1949. INJURY REPORT Pinch-hitter Adam Hydzu was taken to a hospital for X-rays after being hit on the left hand by a Julian Tavarez pitch in the sixth inning. Results weren't immediately available. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez left the game in the seventh inning after being hit in the rear end by another wayward pitch. McClendon said Ramirez, who is sitting on a .301 batting average, could be available to play in the season finale. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR The Pirates are tentatively scheduled to open the 2002 season April 1 at Shea Stadium against the New York Mets.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---