By Kevin Kelly
Enquirer staff writer

Jami Harris walked back to her souvenir stand along Mehring Way unaware of what she just missed.

"I was on that boat when it happened," she said, motioning to a large tug docked at the Public Landing. "When I was coming up (from the river) that's when everybody was coming down looking for it."

Reds left fielder Adam Dunn had launched a 3-and-2 pitch from Dodgers pitcher Jose Lima over the Batter's Eye Pavilion and out of Great American Ball Park during the fourth inning Tuesday.

The home run ball bounced onto Mehring Way beyond the center field gates and onto a piece of Ohio River driftwood where Reds electrician Tom Tuerck retrieved it.

"That was a shot," said Travis Whalen, a Fort Mitchell resident seated in Section 125. "As soon as it left the bat I said, 'That's history right there. We're watching history.' "

Sure enough, it was.

An employee with HOK Sport, the company that designed Great American Ball Park, calculated the distance at 535 feet. That's 58 feet longer than the previous stadium record set by Albert Pujols last season.

"This park is what, 2 years old?" Dunn said after the 5-2 loss. "I'm sure Wily Mo (Pena) will run into one that will probably double that.

"Maybe we need a Splash O' Meter like they have (at SBC Park) in San Francisco."

The distance converts to about 178 yards or, as Dunn put it, "a six-iron."

"That's my distance on a golf ball when the wind is blowing behind me," Reds relief pitcher Phil Norton said. "That's hard to really fathom."

Dunn entered the game leading the majors in home runs.

Tuesday's blast, which cut the Dodgers' lead to 4-2, was his 35th of the season.

"You just go, 'Wow!' " Reds shortstop Barry Larkin said. "I've seen Wily Mo do it in batting practice. I didn't think I'd ever see it in a game. That goes to show you what kind of power (Dunn) has."