Griffey Picks Up Pace For Weary Mariners M’S Win Opener Of Twinbill When Griffey Belts 39th And 40th Home Runs

Despite his July slump, a big August has left Ken Griffey on pace to hit 53 home runs this year.

Griffey homered twice to reach 40 for the fourth time in his career and lead the Seattle Mariners over the Chicago White Sox 5-3 Sunday in the opener of their doubleheader split.

In the second game, rookie Mike Sirotka won his season debut to lead the White Sox to a 4-2 victory.

“We’ve played a lot of baseball,” said Seattle manager Lou Piniella, whose team split a twinbill Friday against Baltimore and originally was scheduled to play a doubleheader Saturday against Chicago. “It’ll be good to get these doubleheaders out of the way and get back on schedule.”

Griffey, who went 4 for 5 in the first game, hit a two-run homer off Jaime Navarro (9-10) in the first inning of the opener and a solo homer in the ninth off Chuck McElroy, giving him seven in 10 games.

“I haven’t done anything differently,” said Griffey, who hit three homers in July. “I’m just going up there hitting. Whatever happens, happens.”

Griffey took over the major-league lead at 40, one more than Tino Martinez of the New York Yankees. Griffey finished the doubleheader 5 for 9, and struck out in the eighth inning of the second game with a runner on second. McElroy got the upper hand in the eighth.

“I don’t look at their stats. I go right after them,” McElroy said.

“Junior can hit them,” Piniella said. “He went through a little dry spell there and he’s starting to hit the ball well.”

Griffey got off to a hot start, hitting 13 homers and 30 RBIs in April followed by 11 homers and 32 RBIs in May. He drove in only 19 runs and hit three homers in July.

He already has eight homers and 16 RBIs in August. The Mariners have 39 games remaining.

“I hope he keeps doing what he’s been doing the last few days,” Seattle starter Jeff Fassero (12-7) said.

It was the third multihomer game this season for Griffey - his first since hitting three against Toronto on April 25. It was the 24th multihomer game of his career.

Griffey also displayed his defensive skills in the third. Mario Valdez hit a broken-bat soft liner to medium left-center that Griffey chased down, dove at and caught as it was sinking to the turf.

“He’s a Gold Glove outfielder,” Fassero said. “He works at it.”

Jay Buhner added his 30th homer for Seattle, becoming the first Mariner to hit 30 or more homers in three consecutive seasons. Fassero gave up one run and five hits over seven innings.

Navarro lost for the third time in five starts, giving up four runs and nine hits in eight innings.

Griffey’s first-inning homer followed Joey Cora’s double and put Seattle ahead 2-0.

Edgar Martinez walked leading off the fourth, reached third on Buhner’s single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Paul Sorrento, which left fielder Albert Belle misplayed for his ninth error.

Lyle Mouton’s homer pulled Chicago to 3-1 in the sixth. The solo homers by Buhner and Griffey extended Seattle’s lead to four.

Pinch-hitter Dave Martinez had an RBI triple in the ninth off Heathcliff Slocumb and scored on Ray Durham’s groundout.

In the second game, Sirotka held the Mariners to five hits in 5-1/3 innings in his first start since his Aug. 14 recall. He struck out five and walked none.

“I thought I could always keep the team in the game,” Sirotka said. “I’ve faced some good teams in Triple-A and I’ve been here before, so I know what it takes. The difference is confidence.”

Matt Karchner got four outs to convert his sixth straight save opportunity.

Omar Olivares (6-8) gave up four runs and seven hits in seven innings.

Chicago took a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI groundout by Belle and Mike Cameron’s run-scoring single.

Edgar Martinez hit his 21st homer leading off the fourth, but Chicago made it 4-1 in the sixth when Robin Ventura doubled, Jorge Fabregas singled in a run and Ozzie Guillen hit an RBI double.