Griffey hits No. 600 against Marlins

MIAMI -- Ken Griffey Jr. completed his perfect power stroke and admired the arc of his 600th homer before rounding the bases Monday.

Who could blame him for taking a little longer to watch this home run?

The journey to the milestone took a lot longer than anyone expected.

Griffey became the sixth player in history to reach 600 homers with a drive off Mark Hendrickson in the first inning of the Cincinnati Reds' 9-4 victory over the Florida 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.

The 38-year-old Griffey homered with Jerry Hairston on third and one out. The left-handed slugger 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. His 14-year-old son, Trey, joined the players in offering congratulations in the dugout.

Dusty Baker has managed the last three players to achieve the milestone: Bonds in San Francisco, Sosa in Chicago and now Griffey. He was there for Bonds' 600th, on Aug. 9, 2002.

"It's awesome every time you see a milestone like that," Baker said. "It doesn't take away from the others. It adds to it."

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 hat ripped from his hands. Kimball said someone ran off with the ball.

However, the Florida 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 finished 1-for-4 with a strikeout and an intentional walk. He exited in the middle of the eighth.

Hendrickson (7-4) allowed six runs -- five earned -- and five hits in 2 1/3 innings.