McGwire Is Back in Swing at Home

Mark McGwire feels at home again.

McGwire hit his first home run at Busch Stadium since April 11 and the St. Louis Cardinals ended the Philadelphia Phillies’ winning streak at five with a 5-2 victory Monday night.

McGwire connected in the sixth inning against Carlton Loewer for his seventh home run. The two-run shot ended a one-for-16 slump.

“It was a good pitch,” McGwire said. “I didn’t hit it very well, but good enough to get over the fence.”

McGwire finds himself a marked man after his record-setting 70-home run season last year.

“I see the best of the best every plate appearance,” McGwire said. “It’s not going to be easy for here on out the rest of my career.”

Kent Bottenfield (5-1) gave up two runs and eight hits in eight innings. He tied a career-high for victories, having gone 5-10 for Montreal and Colorado in 1993.

The Cardinal bullpen made things difficult in the ninth, as the Phillies loaded the bases with one out against their former closer, Ricky Bottalico. Scott Radinsky relieved and got Rico Brogna to ground into a double play for his third save.

Ron Gant played his first game at Busch Stadium since the Cardinals traded him last November. Gant, whose criticisms of St. Louis Manager Tony La Russa during spring training had racial overtones, went 0 for 3 and was booed loudly during each plate appearance.

Cardinal outfielder J.D. Drew, who refused to sign with the Phillies after they made him the second overall pick of the 1997 draft, did not play because of a thigh injury. He still has not played against Philadelphia, and is listed as day-to-day.

AROUND THE MAJORS / Strawberry Formally Charged

New York Yankee outfielder Darryl Strawberry finally was charged Monday in Tampa, Fla. with possessing cocaine and soliciting sex from an undercover female officer posing as a prostitute.

Strawberry was arrested April 14 a few miles from the Yankees’ extended spring training camp. Police said he offered the undercover officer $50 for sex. Police also said Strawberry had 0.3 grams of cocaine wrapped in a $20 bill in his wallet. He was released on $6,000 bond.

Commissioner Bud Selig put Strawberry on indefinite “administrative leave,” which isn’t defined by baseball’s rules but carries the same penalties as a suspension.

Cal Ripken will rejoin the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday or Friday in Texas after a rehabilitation assignment at Sarasota, Fla.

Ripken went on the disabled list for the first time in his career April 18 because of nerve irritation in his lower back.

Boston Red Sox closer Tom Gordon, who has converted a major league-record 46 consecutive save chances, was activated from the 15-day disabled list . . . .A group headed by Hall of Famer Joe Morgan and former Oakland A’s executive Andy Dolich received a recommendation from city and county leaders in their bid to buy the team. . . . Houston Astro pitcher Doug Henry is expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks after being placed on the 15-day disabled list because of bone chips in his right elbow. The Astros purchased the contract of right-hander Jeff McCurry from triple-A New Orleans. . . . The New York Mets designated right-hander Josias Manzanillo for assignment. Outfielder Terrence Long was recalled from triple-A Norfolk to fill his roster spot.