Sosa`s Home Run After Suspension

After serving a seven-game suspension for using a corked bat, Sammy Sosa returned to the lineup for the Chicago Cubs Wednesday night and singled in his first at bat.

He also hit a two-run shot to center field to help the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds in an away game which took place yesterday (KST) at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

No matter what he did, the reaction was the same. One of baseball`s most beloved players was booed by a capacity crowd. Sosa cracked his bat as he singled the first time he made contact. Sosa`s fifth-inning homer off the top of the batter`s eye in center field against Jimmy Haynes (1-6) showed he`s ready to get on with it, even if some fans won`t let it go.

Some fans yelled "Cork!`` and "Corky!`` during his at-bats on Wednesday. They booed when he singled to right field the first inning, cracking his black bat toward the handle. Other fans picketed on the stand, making fun of the corking episode.

"Quite honestly, with the 24 or 25 games he`s missed, I think that`s really going to keep his strength up big time for the rest of the season,`` Baker said. "He might have one of the best second halves of all time.``

Chang Jeon jeon@donga.com