Join the clubbing
Griffey knots Sosa as Sox bash Seattle
CHICAGO – Ken Griffey Jr. thought it was just a matter of time. His first home run with the Chicago White Sox was still a pretty sweet sight for manager Ozzie Guillen.
Griffey hit one of Chicago’s four homers to move into a tie with Sammy Sosa for fifth on the career list and the surging White Sox routed the Seattle Mariners 15-3 on Wednesday.
“It’s weird,” Griffey said. “I’ve watched Sammy throughout the years. Tying him, it’s OK, I guess.”
Griffey’s two-run drive in the second inning was his first since Chicago acquired him from Cincinnati on July 31, and No. 609 for his career. The 13-time All-Star was just 9 for 43 with four RBIs and no extra-base hits for the White Sox entering the game.
“It’s about time,” Guillen said.
Alexei Ramirez and A.J. Pierzynski each hit a three-run homer for Chicago, which has won eight of nine and maintained a one-game lead over Minnesota in the A.L. Central. Nick Swisher homered for the third straight game and Griffey scored three times.
Griffey hit an RBI single and Ramirez connected for his 14th homer in Chicago’s six-run first against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (3-8), who lasted just two innings. Griffey made it 8-0 with a drive to right after going 46 at-bats without a homer.
The White Sox have scored 13 or more runs in three of their last four games and the 15 runs were one short of their season high.
The 15 runs also were the most allowed by the lowly Mariners since Kansas City scored 17 on July 3, 2007.
Seattle has lost six straight and 11 of 13 overall.
Pierzynski, who finished with three hits for the second straight game, homered against Jake Woods in the fifth and Swisher hit a solo homer off Roy Corcoran in the sixth.
“It seemed like no matter what we threw up there they were covering it with their barrels somehow,” said Dickey, who tied a major league record with four wild pitches in an inning Sunday against Minnesota. “It’s a tough stretch for me personally. The last two weeks I’ve been kind of out of rhythm.”
The White Sox have hit four or more homers in six games this month and 10 times this season. They have 14 in their last four games and lead the majors with 188.
Raul Ibanez hit his 20th homer and drove in three runs for Seattle. Ichiro Suzuki had three hits.
“They’ve got a good ballclub,” Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said. “They’re really rolling and I wish we could have given them some better competition this week.”