CINCINNATI (AP) -- First, Ken Griffey Jr. caught up with Ted

Williams. Then, Javier Valentin got everyone thinking about Pete

Rose.

With a four-homer splurge on Sunday, the Cincinnati Reds

completed a three-game sweep and drew comparisons with a couple of

the greatest hitters in baseball history.

Valentin hit his first career grand slam and a three-run homer,

connecting from both sides of the plate during a 9-4 victory over

the Colorado Rockies. The backup catcher became the first Reds

switch-hitter to homer from both sides of the plate since Pete Rose

did it against Atlanta on Aug. 2, 1967.

"1967? Pete Rose? That's big," Valentin said excitedly.

He wasn't the only one measuring himself against history.

Griffey hit his 521st career homer, moving into a tie with

Williams and Willie McCovey for 14th on the career list. Griffey

recalled talking to Williams for about 20 minutes earlier in his

career.

"I really don't put myself in that category," Griffey said.

"You look at the things he's done. I've got three hitting streaks

of 10 games or more, and his career average is what, .340? He went

to war. I don't put myself in that category. I play baseball. He

took a chance on sacrificing his life for his country."

Griffey hit a solo homer in each game of the series, showing

flashes of his All-Century form. Griffey tore his hamstring from

the bone last August and is just now rounding into form from major

surgery.

"Now that we're going, I'm really glad to see him healthy and

playing well," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "I did not

enjoy seeing him play the last three days."

He wasn't alone in sending the Rockies to another dismal day on

the road. The Reds scored all of their runs off four homers, all

with two outs.

Sean Casey and Griffey homered on consecutive pitches in the

sixth inning, starting a six-run rally off a stunned Jamey Wright

(5-10). The right-hander had allowed only one hit to that point.

"After that, it seemed like every pitch I'm throwing I left

up," Wright said.

Casey sparked the rally with his first homer of the season at

Great American Ball Park, where more homers have been hit than

anyplace else in the majors. The first baseman hadn't homered since

June 5 at Colorado and has only four this season.

He flied out to the warning track in his previous at-bat, which

reminded him of the drought.

"We've been joking around about how everyone's going to hit one

but me," Casey said. "Then, in the AB before, I hit that one to

center field and I'm like, 'C'mon, am I going to go the whole

season without hitting one?' Finally, I got one."

Griffey's homer on the next pitch put the Reds ahead to stay.

Finally, Valentin completed the nine-batter outburst with a grand

slam to right-center, his fifth homer overall.

Valentin also connected from the right side in the eighth inning

off All-Star reliever Brian Fuentes, completing the rare

switch-hitting feat.

"Anytime you do something Pete Rose did, that's pretty

special," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "And Griff tied a

couple of big names, too. That's a pretty big day."

Ramon Ortiz (5-6) gave up four runs in 6 1/3 innings, handing

the Reds an unwanted franchise record. They've gone 92 games into

the season without a complete game, one more than the 2001 club's

mark.

The Reds' rotation has pitched the fewest innings and given up

the most runs in the majors, the main reason they're mired in last

place in the NL Central. Cincinnati is the NL's only team without a

complete game.

The sweep allowed the Reds to match their longest winning streak

of the season -- three games, done six times.

Cory Sullivan had three hits, including a two-run homer, and

J.D. Closser added a solo shot to pace Colorado. Aaron Miles

extended his hitting streak to 12 games, matching Clint Barmes for

longest on the Rockies this season.Game notes
Miles' best career hitting streak is 13 games, set last

July. ... The Rockies have lost 12 road series and split two

others. ... Griffey also walked three times. He has hit safely in

14 of his last 15 games, going 19-for-51 with six homers. ...

Casey's last homer at Great American Ball Park was Sept. 17 off the

Cubs' Carlos Zambrano. ... Casey also hit into his 23rd double

play, seven shy of Ernie Lombardi's club record from 1938. ...

Valentin was the first Reds player to drive in seven runs since

Robin Jennings did it against Pittsburgh on Aug. 31, 2001.