3rd Longest Home Run Game Recap
Cardinals 6, Brewers 5 in 10 innings
3rd Longest Home Run Game Recap
Cardinals 6, Brewers 5 in 10 innings
ST. LOUIS (May 13, 1998 - 4:03 EDT) -- Mark McGwire says he doesn't have time to savor his home runs, even when they break records.
"It excites the people, but I have to look at it as one at-bat. I can't sit there and say 'OK, great.' I have to worry about the next at-bat and worry about tomorrow," he said.
McGwire hit the longest home run in the 32-year history of Busch Stadium, a 527-foot shot, and Delino DeShields hit an RBI single in the 10th inning that sent the St. Louis Cardinals over Milwaukee 6-5 Tuesday night.
"I have to worry about tomorrow. Baseball is a nonstop mental process," McGwire said. "You don't have time to enjoy anything. That's how intense I am."
McGwire's three-run homer -- his 14th -- in the fifth inning broke his own stadium record, set with a 517-foot drive last Sept. 16. The longest home run of his career was measured at 538 feet last June 24 for Oakland.
McGwire connected off Paul Wagner after Royce Clayton singled and Ray Lankford walked, hitting a 1-2 pitch over the left-field scoreboard.
"I went to the well too many times with fastballs. I was going to throw a slider next, but I never got the chance," Wagner said.
Jeff Cirillo's two-run homer in the Brewers ninth tied it at 5. He homered off Jeff Brantley after Fernando Vina opened with a double.
David Howard opened the Cardinals 10th with a single and moved up on a sacrifice by Tom Pagnozzi. DeShields singled off Doug Jones (2-2).
Mike Busby (4-0) pitched a scoreless 10th to earn the victory.
Tony La Russa, the winningest active manager in the majors, got his 1,500th victory. The Brewers lost their fourth in a row.
La Russa was toasted with champagne after the win.
"I've been fortunate to be with winning organizations, including this one," he said.
The Cardinals made it 5-3 in the sixth on a triple by Delino DeShields and a sacrifice fly by Clayton.
Marquis Grissom hit an RBI single in the Brewers first off Kent Mercker. The Cardinals tied it in their half on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Gary Gaetti.
The Brewers took a 3-1 lead on singles by Mark Loretta and Grissom and Marc Newfield's two-run double. Notes: Brantley blew his first save chance in seven tries. ... La Russa's record with Oakland and St. Louis is 1,500-1,363. ... Cirillo has hit in eight straight games.