McGwire's No. 50 makes history

Back at you, Sammy.

After watching Sammy Sosa hit four homers in two days to take over the major league lead with 51, Mark McGwire responded with No. 49 and No. 50 Sunday to make baseball history and close within one of the Chicago slugger.

McGwire became the first player with 50 homers in four consecutive seasons when he hit a pair in the first game of St. Louis's double-header against the New York Mets, including a monstrous 502-foot shot in the first inning off Octavio Dotel.

Like last year, when he set the record of 70 home runs in a season, McGwire has 50 homers after the Cardinals' 125th game.

Sosa went homerless Sunday against Colorado. McGwire's Cardinals were scheduled to play last night at Montreal. Sosa and the Cubs were to open a series at home against San Francisco.

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