Squirrel scares baseball players

A daredevil squirrel frightened a group of Major League Baseball players after it launched itself from the high wire of the safety net into their dugout.

The Philadelphia Phillies were playing the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park on Friday night (US time) when the little critter stole the limelight at the top of the second innings.

Climbing the safety net behind the batter, the rodent dashed across the high wire to the delight of the watching crowd.

But delight soon turned to shocks of horror as the squirrel risked life and limb by jumping from the net onto the roof of the Phillies dugout.

But mirth soon rippled through the crowd again as players escaped at top speed as the squirrel jumped in between them before running underneath the stands.

The distraction provided the highlight of the night for the home fans with the Phillies on the wrong end of a 12-4 thrashing.