Griffey Fails To Homer As Angels Thump M’S Attendance Reaches 3 Million As Fans Root For Circuit Clouts

Ken Griffey Jr., batting leadoff at his own request, did not hit a home run in three at-bats before making an early exit as the A.L. West champion Seattle Mariners lost to the Anaheim Angels 9-3 Wednesday night.

A crowd of 41,975 showed up in the Kingdome, pushing the Mariners’ attendance to 3 million for the first time in the club’s 21-year history. But the fans went home disappointed because Griffey didn’t hit his 56th homer.

Griffey grounded out in the first inning and was called out on strikes in the third. In the fifth, he hit a drive to the warning track in right-center, the ball falling about 5 feet short of the fence.

Mike Blowers batted for Griffey in the eighth and some of the remaining fans responded by booing.

Mark McGwire of St. Louis tied Griffey for the major-league lead in homers by hitting his 55th for St. Louis. McGwire has four games left and Griffey has three remaining in their bids to reach Roger Maris’ mark of 61 in 1961.

Lou Piniella’s lineup already was made out when Griffey told his manager he wanted to bat first instead of third, his usual spot. Piniella readily agreed, and used Griffey as the designated hitter.

Griffey smiled at Ken Hill (9-12) after grounding out in the first and was muttering to himself after being called out by home plate umpire John Hirschbeck.

But Griffey returned to the bench with a grim face after his long fly ball in the fifth.

The Mariners, who wrapped up their division with a 4-3 victory over Anaheim on Tuesday night, rested six regulars. Piniella moved Griffey, their All-Star center fielder, to DH in place of Edgar Martinez.

Andy Sheets increased Seattle’s major-league home run record to 259, two more than Baltimore had in 1996, with a homer off Hill to tie the score in the second.

The Angels got home runs from Jack Howell, his 14th, and Chris Turner. Howell had three RBIs, hitting a two-run homer off Felipe Lira (5-11) in the fifth.

Lira dropped to 0-4 with Seattle since being acquired in a trade with Detroit. He allowed five runs on eight hits and four walks.