Griffey Plays Hero and Makes History

Ken Griffey Jr. hit a go-ahead three-run homer off Jason Isringhausen in the ninth inning, after tying a major league record by homering in his 43rd stadium earlier in the game, helping the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-7, on Monday night.

Griffey added new Busch Stadium to his list with a solo shot in the fifth off Jeff Suppan. He hit his 10th homer with one out in the ninth to erase a 7-5 deficit for the Reds, who have won five straight.

Isringhausen (1-3) leads the National League with 18 saves but has allowed four homers in 23 innings and has blown saves in two of his last three appearances.

Griffey tied a major league record set by Fred McGriff, and has connected in every existing ballpark.

Meanwhile, the timetable for the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols’ return was uncertain after an MRI exam of a strained muscle on his right side was inconclusive. He went on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday.

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Philadelphia 4, Arizona 3 -- Mike Lieberthal’s run-scoring double in the eighth inning turned out to be the winner at Phoenix and the Phillies prevented Brandon Webb from becoming the majors’ first nine-game winner.

Webb allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings, failing in his second attempt to win his ninth straight decision to open the season. Philadelphia rallied from a 3-0 deficit.

Arthur Rhodes struck out Arizona pinch-hitter Tony Clark with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth.

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San Francisco 14, Florida 2 -- Barry Bonds hit his 716th career home run with a two-run shot in the fifth inning, and Lance Niekro had a career-high four RBIs for the Giants at San Francisco.

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Washington 5, Atlanta 4 -- Livan Hernandez (5-5) won his fourth straight start for his first win against the host Braves in nearly six years.

The Nationals, however, had to hold on after Chad Cordero loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth. But Cordero got Adam LaRoche to ground out, notching his 10th save in 12 chances.

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Milwaukee 5, San Diego 2 -- Carlos Lee hit his 19th home run, Chris Capuano (4-4) pitched his way in and out of trouble for six innings and the Brewers used nine walks at Milwaukee to end their eight-game losing streak.

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Pittsburgh 5, Colorado 2 -- Ian Snell struck out a career-high 10 and the Pirates improved the majors’ worst road record to 5-22 while extending the Rockies’ losing streak to a season-high six games.