Insisting the corked bat, designed to put on home run displays during batting practice, was accidentally used in the Devil Rays’ game, Cubs’ slugger Sammy Sosa is suspended for eight games by Major League Baseball. Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president of on-field operations, agreed the Chicago’s outfielder use of an illegal bat was an “isolated incident,” but one that still deserved a penalty.

Tony Clark changes his number from 00 to 52. The Mets’ reserve player wanted to give the team’s mascot, Mr. Met, his identity back, as he and the congenial baseball-headed character shared double-digit ought.

Although his bat may have contained cork in the previous day’s game, all five of Sammy Sosa’s historic bats housed at the Hall of Fame and the 76 confiscated from his locker by Major League Baseball reveal no signs of tampering.

At Puerto Rico’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium, Jeff DaVanon of the Angels becomes the fourth major league player to have three consecutive multi-homer games. Lee May (in 1969), Frank Thomas (in 1962) and Gus Zernial (in 1951) were the others. At the same time, DaVanon also becomes the third player to do it from both sides of the plate in two back-to-back contests, matching Ken Caminiti in 1995) and Eddie Murray in 1987).

Although his bat may have contained cork in yesterday’s game, all five of Sammy Sosa’s historic bats housed at the Hall of Fame and the 76 confiscated from his locker by major league baseball revealed no signs of tampering. X-rays and CT scans were used to clear the Cubs slugger’s remaining lumber.

At Puerto Rico’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium, Jeff DaVanon of the Angels joins Lee May (1969, Reds), Frank Thomas (1962, Mets), and Gus Zernial (1951, A’s) as the fourth player to have three consecutive multi-homer games. At the same time, the Anaheim outfielder also becomes the third player to do it from both sides of the plate in two back-to-back contests, matching Ken Caminiti (1995, Padres) and Eddie Murray (1987, Orioles).

In one of the minor league’s strangest giveaways, the first 500 fans attending Ted Williams Night at the Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings game receive popsicles. Many are critical of the event, believing the promotion mocks the recently cryogenically frozen Red Sox Hall of Fame outfielder.

After being taunted by Twinkie-waving fans in the left-field bleachers, the not-so-svelte Lance Berkman, during a pitching change in the seventh inning, gestures to his Wrigley Field tormentors to throw him one of the sponge cake snacks, which he promptly chows down, much to the delight of the crowd. The next inning, the Astro outfielder goes deep, hitting a sugar-fueled two-run home run in the team’s 9-3 win over the Cubs.