My Favorite Offbeat Sports Story of 2011

Squirrel steals spotlight at NLDS game

ST. LOUIS (AP)

ANIMAL INSTINCTS

Watch as a squirrel scampers by home plate during the Phillies-Cardinals NLDS game Wednesday.

A squirrel ran across home plate in the fifth inning of the NL division series game between the Phillies and Cardinals on Wednesday night.
The squirrel darted across the plate shortly after Roy Oswalt delivered a pitch. Plate umpire Angel Hernandez called it a ball, and Oswalt and manager Charlie Manuel argued. Skip Schumaker flied out to center on the next pitch.
This was the third time one of the rodents was spotted at Busch Stadium. Earlier Wednesday, one — possibly the same one — was seen beyond the center field wall and Tuesday night, a squirrel was seen scampering in foul territory along the third base line.
A Twitter account attributed to the squirrel has been active since Tuesday night (@BuschSquirrel).