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

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 (7-4) in the first inning of the Cincinnati Reds' 9-4 victory yesterday 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."

Cincinnati's Paul Bako had his first career multihomer game — three-run and two-run shots.

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

Griffey, one of baseball's most prolific sluggers before injuries began to take their toll, started the season with 593 home runs.

It took 216 at-bats to make history — his previous homer came May 31.

Giants 3, Nationals 2: Matt Cain (3-4) allowed one run and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings to get his first victory since May 13 for visiting San Francisco. The Giants out-scored the Nationals by a combined 22-4 to complete their first four-game sweep of the franchise since 1994.

Pirates 5, Diamondbacks 3: Zach Duke (4-4) gave up two runs in six-plus innings as host Pittsburgh beat Arizona. The Diamondbacks lost their 10th in 14 games.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Indians 8, Tigers 2: Ryan Garko and Kelly Shoppach both homered in the first two innings against Dontrelle Willis (0-1), helping visiting Cleveland beat Detroit. Cliff Lee (10-1) became the AL's first 10-game winner after allowing two runs, six hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings.

Royals 3, Yankees 2: Jose Guillen hit a tiebreaking solo home run off Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning to lift visiting Kansas City. Guillen went deep on an 0-2 pitch from Rivera (2-2). It was Guillen's 11th homer of the season and fourth in the last three games.

White Sox 7, Twins 5: Switch-hitter Nick Swisher homered from both sides of the plate as host Chicago completed a four-game sweep of Minnesota. Paul Konerko hit a go-ahead home run as Chicago sent Minnesota to its fifth loss in a row.

Mariners 3, Blue Jays 2: Miguel Cairo's safety squeeze after Jason Frasor (1-1) walked the bases loaded in the 10th inning lifted visiting Seattle. Cairo's bunt off Brian Wolfe was to the mound, scoring Willie Bloomquist.

Rays 13, Angels 4: Evan Longoria had a pair of solo homers and an RBI double, and Dioner Navarro drove in four runs with four hits for visiting Tampa Bay. Longoria, Willy Aybar and Navarro hit consecutive homers in the second inning.