Griffey Connects, But Mariners Don’t
Ken Griffey Jr. homered twice to end his longest homerless streak in three seasons, but the Knasas City Royals rallied to beat the Seattle Mariners 14-10 Friday night and win their sixth straight.
Griffey, who hadn’t connected since April 21, hit a two-run drive off Chris Haney in the fourth and a solo shot of Mike Magnante in the eighth to raise his season total to 10. It was Griffey’s 17th multihomer game, his third this season.
Seattle starter Chris Bosio was pounded for nine runs - eight earned - and nine hits in 4-1/3 innings. His ERA rose form 2.76 to 4.50.
Kansas City outhit the Mariners 14-11, and every Royals starter scored. Julio Valera (2-1) allowed two runs and four hits in 3-1/3 innings. Loser Tim Davis (0-2) allowed four runs and three hits in 2-1/3 innings.
Seattle’s Brian Hunter had four RBIs.
With the score tied at 9, Kansas City scored three runs in the sixth on Bip Roberts’ RBI groundout and Jose Offerman’s two-run homer.
A fielding error by third baseman Russ Davis made it 13-9 in the seventh and Michael Tucker homered in the eighth.
Hunter put Seattle ahead with a two-run single in the first, but Kansas City took a 3-2 lead in the third on Keigh Lockhart’s two-run double and a fielding error by second baseman Luis Sojo.
Hunter’s two-run double and Dan Wilson’s sacrifice fly put Seattle ahead 5-3 in the bottom half, but Kansas City went back on top with a four-run fourth. David Howard hit an RBI single, Michael Goodwin hit a sacrifice fly and Lockhart and Roberts hit RBI doubles.
Griffey’s first homer tied the socre at 7, but the Royals scored twice in the fifth on Howard’s sacrifice fly and Sal Fasano’s homer. Davis hit an RBI double in the bottom half and scored on Ivan Rodriguez’s sacrifice fly.
Notes
The winning streak is Kansas City’s longest since the Royals won seven straight last June 10-16…The Royals claimed right-hander Tim Pugh off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds and designated right-hander Terry Clark for assignment. Pugh was designated for assignment by Cincinnati on Wednesday after going 1-0 with a 10.57 ERA…Griffey’s last homers were April 21, when he connected twice off Erik Hanson. He hadn’t homered in 15 games and 52 at-bats…It was Griffey’s longest homerless streak since May 9-30, 1993 when he wnet 69 at-bats without a homer.