Galarraga’s Slam Really Measures Up

Andres Galarraga hit a 529-foot grand slam Saturday, then was ejected four innings later for charging the mound after being hit by a pitch in the Colorado Rockies’ 8-4 victory over the Florida Marlins at Miami.

Galarraga’s slam against Kevin Brown (5-3) was the longest home run ever at Pro Player Stadium, the longest in the Rockies’ history and longest this season in the major leagues.

“I feel like I’m dreaming, I’m so happy,” Galarraga said. “Never in my imagination did I think I could hit it that far.”

Galarraga’s shot landed halfway up the upper deck, one section from the left-field foul pole. It came with two out on a 2-and-2 pitch in the fourth inning to give the Rockies a 7-0 lead.

The distance of the home run was first announced as 573 feet, then changed to 529.

In the eighth, both benches cleared when Galarraga charged the mound after being hit by a pitch from Dennis Cook. As Galarraga approached him, the 190-pound Cook made a sidestep. He then lowered his right shoulder into the 235-pound Galarraga, and they tumbled to the ground.

The Rockies said Cook hit Galarraga intentionally.

“No doubt about it in my mind,” Colorado Manager Don Baylor said. “The statement I heard [on the field] after it all was, ‘What do you expect after a guy hits a home run nine miles?’ ”

Mickey Mantle is generally credited with hitting the longest home run ever, a 565-foot drive in 1953 off Washington’s Chuck Stobbs at Griffith Stadium. A Yankee official used a tape measure to determine the distance, leading to the term “tape-measure” home run.

In 1926, Babe Ruth hit a homer at Detroit that traveled an estimated 600 feet.

New York 10, Philadelphia 3--Carlos Baerga went 4 for 5 and drove in four runs at New York and the Mets moved seven games over .500 for the first time since 1991.

The Mets won 18 of 27 games in May and reached the 30-win mark faster than the World Series champion New York Yankees.

Baerga, who has 14 RBIs in his last 13 games, has raised his average from .161 on April 28 to .296. He has gone 37 for 97 (.381) in that span.

Armando Reynoso (4-0) gave up six hits in seven innings.

Reynoso gave up a two-run home run to Darren Daulton in the sixth.

Chicago 7, Cincinnati 4--Shawon Dunston doubled twice, singled and drove in two runs to lead the Cubs at Chicago.

“Shawn probably hits the ball and runs with the maximum effort more often than any player I’ve ever managed,” Cub Manager Jim Riggleman said.

Kevin Foster (7-3) matched his 1996 victory total by winning his fourth consecutive start. He gave up three runs on three walks and four hits--all doubles. He left after a leadoff walk in the eighth.

Mel Rojas pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

“He’s had some ups and downs, but he’s a great competitor,” Riggleman said of Foster. “He’s the type of guy we want out there because he’ll give you everything he’s got. We really couldn’t be happier for him at this point in the season for what he’s accomplished.”

Montreal 4, Pittsburgh 2--Rondell White and Darrin Fletcher hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning, then they both singled to start a two-run fourth to lead the Expos at Pittsburgh.

Dustin Hermanson (2-3) won for the first time since defeating the Chicago Cubs in first major league start on April 22.

Jason Kendall had a home run, triple and double in his first three at-bats.

He could have become the first Pirates player to hit for the cycle since Gary Redus on Aug. 25, 1989, but struck out in his final at-bat of the game against Ugueth Urbina, who pitched the ninth for his eighth save.

“Cycle or no cycle, the bottom line is we lost,” Kendall said. “Yeah, I was aware of it, but I was more concerned about trying to get on base some way to get something going.”

Fletcher was 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Expos, who had lost four of five since leading hitter David Segui fouled a ball off his left knee Sunday against Pittsburgh. An MRI test Saturday revealed inflammation in the cartilage, and Segui definitely won’t play today.

San Francisco 6, Atlanta 4--Starting pitcher William VanLandingham suffered control problems and lasted only one inning, but the Giants’ bullpen gave up only one run and seven hits the rest of the way at San Francisco.

Jeff Kent’s run-scoring single broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh.

The game was delayed one hour, eight minutes by rain, and there was another delay of 1:10 in the seventh.

San Francisco has come from behind in 17 of its 31 victories, a trend that continued when they rallied from a 4-1 deficit.

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BESTS OF THE DAY: BATTING

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result A. Galarraga Colorado Hit a 529-foot grand slam Won Jason Kendall Pittsburgh 3 for 4, home run, triple, double Lost Carlos Baerga New York 4 for 5, 4 RBIs, 1 run Won John Mabry St. Louis 3 for 4, home run, 2 RBIs, 1 run Won

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Todd Stottlemyre St. Louis 8 1/3 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs, 10 strikeouts Won Kevin Foster Chicago 7 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs, 3 strikeouts Won

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