CINCINNATI, June 15 (UPI) -- Sammy Sosa hit the 599th home run of his career Friday night, a grand slam in the fifth, pushing the Texas Rangers past Cincinnati, 7-6.
Sosa also drove in a run with a single and ended a stretch of 70 at bats since his previous homer.
He needs one more to become the fifth player ever in the majors to reach the 600 mark. He will join Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays.
Ramon Vazquez also homered for the Rangers to help make a winner out of Vicente Padilla (3-8).
Although he gave up six runs on 12 hits in five innings, Padilla picked up his first victory since May 21.
Matt Belisle (5-5) was touched for seven runs on nine hits in five innings as the Reds lost their third straight.
Sosa's homer into the right-field seats gave Texas a 7-4 lead.
Eric Gagne worked the ninth for his seventh save in as many opportunities.
