Griffey hits 500th career home run in Reds victory

ST. LOUIS -- Ken Griffey Jr. trotted around the bases as if it was just another home run. It was hardly that.\nGriffey hit a 2-2 pitch from Matt Morris into the right-field stands and went right into the record books as the 20th player to hit 500 home runs Sunday.\nThe Cincinnati Reds star ended a frustrating stretch with his leadoff homer in the sixth inning, becoming the sixth-youngest player to hit 500, in a 6-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.\nGriffey took a few extra seconds to watch his drive fly into the right-field seats, dropped his bat and then slowly trotted around the bases with his 19th homer of the season.\nThe base coaches simply shook Griffey's hand as he passed by. When Griffey crossed the plate, he tapped fists with teammate Adam Dunn, who then tapped Griffey on the helmet. All of his teammates then came out on the field to congratulate him after the historic homer.\nGriffey then went to a box next to the Reds' dugout and hugged his father, Ken Griffey Sr., and children.\nGriffey, the first to reach 500 in a Cincinnati uniform, got a warm ovation from a sellout crowd of 45,620 on Lou Brock bobblehead day. He then received a standing ovation as he ran out to the field before the bottom of the sixth, responding with a wave of his cap.\nBefore Griffey reached center field, Reds relievers came out of the bullpen and congratulated him.\nJung Keun Bong (1-1) allowed three hits in six scoreless innings and three relievers finished a combined four-hit shutout to end the Reds' nine-game road losing streak. The slump was the team's longest since they dropped 10 in a row from June 1-24, 1998.\nThe Reds, who got a three-run homer from Jason LaRue in the fourth, also averted a three-game sweep and ended the Cardinals' six-game winning streak. The NL Central leaders have won 15 of 20.\nJimmie Foxx was the youngest player to hit 500 homers, reaching the milestone at 32. Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth also hit theirs at 34, the same age as Griffey.\nGriffey was the fastest to 350, 400 and 450 before being slowed by injuries the last three seasons.\nThree other active players have hit 500 homers. Barry Bonds is third on the career list with 676, Sosa has 549 and Rafael Palmeiro has 538. Fred McGriff needs seven homers to become the 21st player to hit 500.\nGriffey is the second player to hit his 500th homer in St. Louis. Mark McGwire connected for his 500th off Andy Ashby of the San Diego Padres in 1999.\nGriffey was 5-for-21 with four RBIs in six games since homering last Sunday against Cleveland, and hadn't come close to the fences before hitting a 2-2 pitch over the right-field wall, a drive estimated at 393 feet.\nThe ball was caught by 19-year-old Mark Brummley of Mount Carmel, Ill.\nGriffey hit a pair of high fly balls in his first two at-bats. He flied out to center near the warning track leading off the second, and hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in the first run in the Reds' five-run fourth against Morris.\nHe finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs.\nMorris, who had won his previous three starts, gave up six runs on six hits in six innings. He has allowed a major league-high 23 homers in 15 starts.