Stairs sets record for pinch hit home runs

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (Reuters) - San Diego Padres outfielder Matt Stairs hit his 21st career pinch hit home run on Saturday to set a Major League record.

Stairs, who was pinch-hitting for pitcher Ernesto Frieri in the eighth inning, smashed a pitch off Kameron Loe over the right field fence to move past Cliff Johnson, with whom he had shared the previous record of 20 pinch-hit home runs.

The two-run blast, however, was not enough to help his team to victory. Milwaukee held on for the 6-5 win.

Stairs, who broke into the majors in 1992 and played for 12 teams, has hit 262 home runs.

(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)