ATLANTA -- Sammy Sosa hit his 53rd homer on Saturday, a two-run shot against the Atlanta Braves that sailed 471 feet into center field -- a record distance for Turner Field.

Sosa hit a 3-2 pitch off Greg Maddux to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

The previous longest home run at Turner Field was a 454-foot shot that Milwaukee's Jeromy Burnitz hit on June 24, 2000.

Sosa had 17 homers in August, tying Willie Mays' 1965 NL record for homers in the month. The major league record for most homers in August -- 18 -- was set by Detroit's Rudy York in 1937.

Sosa holds the major league mark for homers in any month, hitting 20 in June 1998. He and York are the only two players in major league history with two 17-homer months. York hit 17 in August 1943.

The homer also gave Sosa 439 for his career, breaking a tie with Andre Dawson for 27th in major league history.