Galarraga’s Homer Helps Beat Mariners

Andres Galarraga launched the longest home run in Coors Field history before its largest crowd ever, leading the Colorado Rockies to a 9-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners in interleague play Thursday night.

The crowd of 50,269, including complimentary tickets, was the biggest in the ballpark’s three seasons, eclipsing the 50,247 fans who saw the Dodgers on July 14.

In the much-anticipated showdown between the top two home run-hitting teams in the majors, both clubs homered twice.

Galarraga’s 487-footer to left-center in the sixth inning exceeded the 483-foot homer by St. Louis’ Ray Lankford at Coors on May 19, 1996. Along with his 35th homer, a two-run shot, Galarraga also had a run-scoring double.

“As soon as I hit it, I knew it was going pretty far,” Galarraga said. “But I never thought it would be the longest home run at Coors Field. Everybody on the bench said it had to be about 500 feet. When they flashed 487 on the scoreboard, they all said, ‘No way.’ But that’s all right.

Jeff Reed added a three-run homer to help the Rockies post their third consecutive victory.

Roberto Kelly and Edgar Martinez hit home runs for the Mariners in the eighth. Ken Griffey Jr., the leading home run hitter in the majors with 43, went hitless in three at-bats.

Pedro Astacio (8-9), making his second start for the Rockies after being traded by the Dodgers on Aug. 17, struck out nine.

Astacio held the Mariners to two runs on four hits through seven innings, but tired in the eighth. Seattle scored three runs in that inning, including solo homers by Kelly and Martinez.