CLEVELAND (AP) -Sammy Sosa of the Texas Rangers set a major-league record Thursday with a home run in his 44th major league ballpark at Jacobs Field.
Sosa hit the first pitch from Cleveland Indians starter Paul Byrd into the left-field seats leading off the sixth inning.
Sosa had been tied with Ken Griffey Jr., and Fred McGriff with homers in 43 ballparks. The only stadiums currently in use where the 38-year-old has not hit a homer are RFK Stadium in Washington and the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
He had narrowly missed setting the record Wednesday night when his line drive off the top of the left-field wall was ruled a double. TV replays showed the ball hit the yellow home-run line atop the wall. An inch higher and it would have been a homer.
Sosa’s fifth homer of the season pulled the Rangers within 5-3 in the game and moved him within seven of becoming the fifth player with 600 career homers.
He signed with Texas as a free agent January, hopeful of making the 600-homer plateau after sitting out the entire 2006 season in retirement.
Hall of Famer Hank Aaron is the all-time leader with 755 home runs, followed by Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants with 741, and Hall of Famers Babe Ruth (714) and Willie Mays (660).
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