Seattle Survives Day One M’S Win Without Griffey

The Seattle Mariners learned last year they can win without Ken Griffey Jr. And, for at least one game, they have this season.

Paul Sorrento and Joey Cora had three hits and two RBIs apiece Thursday night as the Mariners, playing without Griffey for the first time this season, beat the Chicago White Sox 8-5.

Griffey, injured during Wednesday night’s game against Toronto while fouling off a pitch, had hand surgery Thursday. The Mariners star center fielder had a chipped-off piece of the hamate bone in the heel of his right hand removed during a 40-minute procedure. He is expected to be out three to five weeks and probably will miss the July 9 All-Star game in Philadelphia.

Seattle was without Griffey for 73 games last year, yet still managed to make the playoffs. Now, manager Lou Piniella faces a similar dilemma.

“We’ll still get our power from three or four guys in the lineup,” he said. “That’s what we’re going to need - total team contribution. There’s no question. We’re going to do the best we can. There’s character here. I talked to a few of my veteran players today and told them we need you now more than ever to provide some leadership here. We’re not going to roll over and play dead. I can tell you that.”

Norberto Martin went 4 for 5 for the White Sox, who dropped five games behind Cleveland in the A.L. Central after being tied for first place on June 10.

Sterling Hitchcock (6-3) gave up three runs and nine hits in six-plus innings. Norm Charlton pitched the ninth for his 11th save.

The Mariners roughed up Chicago starter Kevin Tapani (7-4) for eight runs and 15 hits in 6-2/3 innings.

Seattle sent 10 batters to the plate during a four-run second inning. Sorrento led off with a double, took third on Dan Wilson’s single and scored on a forceout. Rich Amaral and Cora hit RBI singles before Alex Rodriguez hit into a fielder’s choice to make it 4-0.

Sorrento’s RBI single in the fifth gave the Mariners a 5-0 lead.

“I didn’t pitch well, and so I didn’t give us much of a shot,” said Tappani. “If you are asking which pitch didn’t work, the answer is all of the above. Generally, my pitches were up, and location wasn’t good.”

The White Sox got a run back in the fifth, but Sorrento hit a 2-2 pitch over the center-field wall, Andy Sheets’ hit an RBI double and Cora had an RBI single to make it 8-1.

Harold Baines hit a two-run single and Danny Tartabull’s ninth homer helped the White Sox cut it to 8-5 in the seventh.

“We’re just struggling right now,” Chicago manager Terry Bevington said. “Tonight we had good hitting and good defense. All we were missing was good pitching… . Tapani just had a rough night. Yes, I stayed with him. He pitched as long as he could pitch.”

Notes

With two RBIs Thursday, Harold Baines moved into sole possession of 64th place on the career list. Pete Rose and Graig Nettles are tied for 62nd with 1,314 RBIs… . Seattle is hitting a major league best .317 on the road.