Baseball returned two days early to Busch Stadium, and the fans were waiting.

It was only an exhibition, but the St. Louis Cardinals drew a crowd of 26,033 for a game - the first in St. Louis since July 31 - against the Seattle Mariners Monday night.

Part of the attraction was Ken Griffey Jr., who delighted fans by hitting a few long home runs in batting practice, although he struck out twice and lined out weakly in three at-bats. Another attraction was the $2.50 price tag for all seats. Another: the first visit by an American League team since Minnesota in the 1987 World Series.

In any case, there were no hard feelings evident from the strike. About half of the crowd stuck around after a 24-minute rain delay in the top of the sixth of a game the Mariners won 4-2.

Cardinals manager Joe Torre didn’t care. He was just happy to be back home after 10 weeks in St. Petersburg, Fla.

“It’s nice being back, it really is,” Torre said.

The Cardinals (5-6-1) traditionally play at Triple A Louisville and other minor-league cities on their way up north from spring training. This year, due to the strike, Louisville is well into its season.

So the Cardinals talked the Mariners (5-7) into a two-game series before they start the regular season Wednesday night against Philadelphia.

“I like it, I really do,” Torre said. “I think it gives you a day or so to rehearse in a major-league park before you have to play in it.”

Griffey took advantage of the side trip to get a night out with Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith. The two dined at Smith’s restaurant, Ozzie’s, in St. Louis County Sunday night.

“Dinner was great,” Smith said. “Food was good, company was great. He probably had a great time.”

Griffey also appeared to enjoy his first look at Busch, although he thought the park looked too spacious. The Cardinals moved the outfield wall in a few years ago, but it’s still 402 feet to straightaway center and 375 down the alleys.

“This is a big ballpark,” Griffey said. “I’m a little guy. I’m going to go into my singles game today.”

Griffey entered hitting .375 with three home runs and six RBIs in 24 at-bats, but said he wasn’t up to speed yet.

“I haven’t been swinging the bat the last couple of days,” he said. “I’ve got to change a few things and go back to hitting line drives.”

Seattle scored three runs in the eighth against John Habyan (0-1). Alex Diaz tied it with a groundout, and another run scored when catcher Scott Hemond threw wildly on Diaz’s steal attempt. Craig Griffey and Jeff Blowers produced another run with consecutive triples.

Cardinals starter Donovan Osborne worked five innings and allowed a run on six hits. He struck out six, including Junior on a curve ball for a called third strike in the fourth. The only run he allowed came home on a wild pitch in the fourth.

M’s starter Dave Fleming also worked five innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Chris Bosio gave up three hits in three scoreless innings.

Edgar Martinez was 3 for 3, raising his spring average to .471.

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