AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mariners Hold Off Athletics, 5-2

The Seattle Mariners came out of spring training believing they were a better team than the one that finished sixth in the American League West last season.

They didn’t expect to challenge the Oakland Athletics, but they did expect to improve on 73-89.

After opening with a victory over the Angels, they lost eight of nine games.

But on Sunday, Jeffrey Leonard and Ken Griffey Jr. each drove in two runs and Erik Hanson gave up six hits and struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings as the Mariners beat the A’s, 5-2. The victory gave Seattle a split of the four-game series.

Griffey, batting .373, went five for eight with a homer and six RBIs the past two games against Oakland.

“I just wanted to go out and forget about last year,” said Griffey, who was three for 20 against Oakland last season and two for 15 against the Angels.

Seattle’s victory came against an Oakland lineup filled with reserves. Regulars Rickey Henderson, Mark McGwire and Dave Henderson all got the day off.

“They didn’t have their starting nine out there,” Hanson said, “but everybody here’s a big leaguer, so it doesn’t matter who they send up. They’re all in the big leagues.”

Oakland Manager Tony La Russa, whose club was nearly no-hit two nights ago by Brian Holman, left the series impressed by the Mariners.

“They’re going to be tough; they’ve got a good thing going,” La Russa said. “Hanson’s got a good fastball. He was able to get strikeouts. He’s got a good changeup, but he didn’t have to use it much.”

Texas 10, New York 4--The final score doesn’t show it, but former Dodger Tim Leary turned in another solid performance for the Yankees.

Leary’s own error with two out in the first inning at Arlington, Tex., allowed Harold Baines to come to the plate and the designated hitter socked a three-run home run.

Leary, who struck out eight, allowed only one other hit until he was removed after Gary Pettis singled with two out in the seventh and Texas leading, 3-2.

The Rangers scored two in the seventh and Mike Stanley hit a three-run homer in the eighth to make it a rout. Rafael Palmeiro also homered in the eighth, both of the home runs coming off bullpen ace Dave Righetti.

The Yankees, after winning four of five, have lost five in a row.

Although he gave up 11 hits in 7 1/3 innings, Kevin Brown joined teammate Nolan Ryan with a 3-0 record.

Cleveland 5, Chicago 2--Cory Snyder hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning at Cleveland, but that was not the big news.

Indian shortstop Felix Fermin, in his 655th at-bat, finally hit his first home run. It came off relief pitcher Donn Pall for the final run in the seventh inning.

Bud Black gave up five hits, but just one earned run before needing help in the ninth inning.

Kansas City 7, Toronto 1--Most pitchers don’t enjoy facing the talent-laden Blue Jays, but Kansas City right-hander Tom Gordon is making a habit of beating them.

With Bo Jackson hitting his first home run, a two-run smash in the first inning, Gordon improved his record to 4-0 against the Blue Jays. He gave up five hits and struck out nine in seven innings.

“Maybe I just concentrate more when I face these guys,” Gordon said. “They’ve got such a strong lineup. If there’s one guy on their team who gives me trouble, it would be George Bell.”

Bell hit his fourth home run for the Toronto run in the sixth. He has hit 17 home runs against the Royals.

Baltimore 3, Detroit 2--Detroit pitchers issued 12 walks in this 12-inning game at Baltimore.

The last, by bullpen ace Mike Henneman, came with the bases loaded and nobody out to force in the winning run.

Craig Worthington’s double, an intentional walk and a bunt single loaded the bases against Henneman.

Boston 4, Milwaukee 2--The Brewers’ club-record string of 31 consecutive scoreless innings ended in the third inning at Milwaukee and they lost in the 11th on a two-out, two-run single by Jody Reed.

Ellis Burks singled in the run in the third that ended the Red Sox scoreless string at 22 innings.

Lee Smith pitched three scoreless innings to get the victory for the Red Sox, who tied it in the eighth on Dwight Evans’ second home run of the season.