Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th home run last night, completing his long ascent and becoming the sixth player in history to reach that milestone.

The Cincinnati outfielder homered off Florida LHP Mark Hendrickson in the first inning of the Reds' 9-4 victory. Griffey joined Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa.

The 38-year-old homered with Jerry Hairston on third and one out. The left-handed swinger launched a 3-1 pitch 413 feet into the right field seats.

Griffey received a standing ovation from the crowd of 16,003 and responded by coming out of the Reds' dugout and waving his helmet to the fans.

"I don't think I touched any of the bases. I sort of floated around," Griffey said.

Manager Dusty Baker has managed the last three players to achieve the milestone: Bonds in San Francisco, Sosa in Chicago and now Griffey.

The game was the last one of an eight-game road trip for the Reds, who will return home tonight to play the Cardinals.

Controversy ensued in the stands following the home run. Justin Kimball, a 25-year-old from Miami, said he caught the home run ball, put it in a wool cap and then had the cap ripped from his hands. Kimball said someone ran off with the ball. Police said they had found the fan with the baseball and would look at video tape to see if Kimball's claims could be supported.

However, the Marlins announced Major League Baseball had authenticated the home run ball for a middle-aged male fan who would only give his first name as Joe.

Griffey ended the game 1 for 4 with a strikeout and an intentional walk. He exited in the middle of the eighth.

· ELIA SURFACES: The slumping Mariners fired hitting coach Jeff Pentland and replaced him with special assistant Lee Elia.

Elia, who turns 71 next month, was Seattle's batting coach from 1993 to '97 and is perhaps best known for a tirade he once unleashed as manager of the Cubs.

"Lee is vocal," Seattle Manager John McLaren said. "He can pat you on the back and cheerlead you and, if he needs to, he can get in your face and challenge you. I've seen both sides of him."

GM Bill Bavasi said he hoped a "different voice" would help the team with the worst record in the majors.

-- From News Services