NEW YORK, 27 May 2004 — Ken Griffey Jnr hit a three-run homer, the 492nd of his career, to lead the streaking Reds to a 5-2 win over the Florida Marlins in National League play in Cincinnati on Tuesday.
Griffey’s blast helped the Reds to their seventh straight win as they held on to the lead in the NL Central.
The Marlins intentionally walked Sean Casey to pitch to Griffey in the sixth inning, but that move backfired as the slugger launched the first pitch he saw from Josh Beckett deep to right field for his third home run in as many days.
Griffey stared angrily into the Marlins dugout as he rounded third base.
It was the third time on the Reds current homestand that an opponent walked Casey to pitch to Griffey, who has been troubled by injuries the last few seasons.
Cincinnati now has the best record in the National League at 27-18 and has won 11 of its past 12 games.
Paul Wilson (7-0) allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings to tie Houston’s Roger Clemens with seven straight decisions to start the season.
Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his first save of the season. The Reds usual closer, Danny Graves, had pitched in five of the team’s previous six games.
In other games, Tomo Ohka pitched seven strong innings to guide the Montreal Expos to a 3-1 win over the Atlanta Braves. Tony Batista, Juan Rivera and Endy Chavez all homered for the Expos.
In New York, Steve Trachsel pitched 6 2/3 innings of four-hit shutout to lead the Mets past the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0. Trachsel (5-3) struck out six and walked four.
Mike Piazza homered and drove in two runs for the Mets, while Cliff Floyd added a two-run double. Roy Oswalt allowed three hits over seven innings as the Houston Astros eased to a 5-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. Oswalt (3-3) struck out eight and walked one to win for the first time in more than a month. Lance Berkman and Orlando Palmeiro both homered for Houston.
In Milwaukee, Cesar Izturis had two hits and drove in two runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Brewers 5-3. Alex Cora had three hits and scored twice for the Dodgers. Jose Lima (3-1) allowed an unearned run on two hits over 1 1/3 innings before Eric Gagne pitched the ninth for his 11th save.
In Denver, Jay Payton hit a two-run homer and had four RBI, leading the San Diego Padres to an 11-6 win over the Colorado Rockies. Payton had four hits for the Padres, while Miguel Ojeda hit his first homer of the season and drove in three runs. Scott Linebrink (2-0) allowed one hit in one inning to pick up the win. Jeff Fassero (0-3) allowed the winning run in the eighth and took the loss, Colorado’s sixth straight. Luis Gonzalez had four hits for the Rockies.
In San Francisco, Jason Schmidt pitched eight strong innings and Barry Bonds homered, leading the Giants past the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1. Schmidt (5-2) allowed one run on four hits in eight-plus innings.
Bonds hit his 11th homer of the season, his first in almost a month and the 669th of his career. Matt Herges got the last two outs for his 13th save. Casey Fossum (0-2) allowed four runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings for the loss.
