The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO - Sammy Sosa hit his 549th career home run Saturday night, moving out of a tie with Mike Schmidt and taking sole possession of ninth place on the all-time list.

Sosa hit a two-run shot off Adam Eaton into the second deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building just beyond the left-field corner at Petco Park with two outs in the fifth. Sosa's 10th homer came on a 2-1 count, one pitch after rookie shortstop Khalil Greene couldn't hold onto a foul ball down the left-field line while trying to make a difficult over-the-shoulder catch.

YANKEES: Still searching for a reliable fifth starter, the New York Yankees acquired right-hander Tanyon Sturtze from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday for a player to be named.

Sturtze has pitched for five teams during eight big-league seasons, going 29-39 with a 5.20 ERA in 159 games. He was 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Las Vegas this year.

NEGRO LEAGUES DEAL: More than two dozen players from the old Negro Leagues will receive pensions from a charitable fund to be established by Major League Baseball, a source told the Associated Press.

The 27 players all played part of at least four seasons after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947. A management source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the agreement Saturday. Details are expected to be announced Monday.

The agreement was first reported by the Washington Post. Players will have the option of getting $833.33 per month for four years - a rate of $10,000 per year - or $375 a month for life.

"That's great. Good for them," said former Negro Leagues player Buck O'Neil, chairman of the Negro Leagues museum in Kansas City. "They deserved to get something."

METS: Al Leiter rejoined the Mets before Saturday's game against the Houston Astros after undergoing an MRI on his ailing left shoulder the previous day in New York.

Doctors confirmed that the left-hander has tendinitis in the shoulder, and he won't pitch his scheduled start today. Leiter, who also was given a cortisone shot, was examined Friday by team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito.

The Mets expect Leiter to pitch next weekend against Colorado.

SHORT HOPS: Cleveland lefty Cliff Bartosh struck out the side against Tampa Bay in his major-league debut Saturday.

• The Orioles optioned right-hander Kurt Ainsworth to Triple-A Ottawa on Saturday, a day after he allowed nine runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Ainsworth, acquired from San Francisco in a July 31 trade for Sidney Ponson, was 0-1 with a 9.68 ERA in seven starts.

• Colorado placed right-hander Turk Wendell on the 15-day DL with stiffness in his right shoulder.

• Pirates catcher Jason Kendall has a six-game hitting streak after an 0-for-14 stretch.