MIAMI — Ken Griffey Jr. completed his perfect power stroke and admired the arc of his 600th homer before rounding the bases.
Griffey became the sixth player sixth player in history to reach 600 homers with a drive off Mark Hendrickson (7-4) in the first inning of the Reds’ 9-4 victory over the Marlins. Griffey joined Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa as the only players to reach the mark.
“I don’t think I touched any of the bases. I sort of floated around,” Griffey said.
Griffey, 38, homered with Jerry Hairston on third and one out, sending 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 dugout and waving his helmet to the fans. His 14-year-old son, Trey, joined the players in offering congratulations in the dugout.
Paul Bako had his first career multihomer game — three-run and two-run shots — and Brandon Phillips added a solo homer in support of Edinson Volquez (9-2).
Hairston left the game with a broken left thumb and could miss two to four weeks.
