AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mariners Win to Move Within 5 1/2 of Angels

The Seattle Mariners took time to applaud Cal Ripken Jr. for playing in his 2,128th consecutive game Sunday, then took a little longer to win in Baltimore, 9-6, and move to within 5 1/2 games of the Angels in the AL West race.

Rich Amaral, subbing for the ailing Ken Griffey Jr., hit a three-run homer for the Mariners, who rebounded from a three-run deficit to win their seventh game in the last 10.

When the game became official after five innings, the Mariners climbed the steps of the dugout and joined the sellout crowd of 46,269 in a standing ovation for Ripken, who is on his way toward breaking Lou Gehrig’s record of 2,130 consecutive games Wednesday.

“He deserves it,” Seattle Manager Lou Piniella said. “It was a small tribute to him from myself and from my players. It was something we had talked about a little bit.”

Griffey sat out the game because his left wrist was sore.

Kansas City 8, Texas 5--Gary Gaetti’s 400-foot drive to center popped out of Otis Nixon’s glove and fell over the center-field fence for a three-run homer in the eighth inning, giving the Royals a victory over the Rangers at Arlington, Tex.

The victory was the ninth in 11 games for Kansas City, including five of seven against the Rangers, and kept the Royals percentage points ahead in the AL wild-card race. Texas, which has lost eight of 10, dropped a game behind Kansas City and Seattle.

Gregg Olson (2-1), Kansas City’s third pitcher, got the victory after surviving a harrowing seventh inning, his only action. Jeff Montgomery pitched two innings for his 26th save.

Olson gave up two infield hits and walked a batter to load the bases with one out in the seventh, then watched as Juan Gonzalez and Mickey Tettleton both missed on grand slams that went just outside the foul poles.

Cleveland 9, Detroit 8--Jose Mesa blew his second save in 10 days, but Omar Vizquel’s RBI single in the 10th inning lifted the Indians to a victory at Detroit.

Mesa (3-0), who leads the majors with 38 saves, relieved with one out in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and an 8-4 lead, but immediately gave up a grand slam to Ron Tingley.

Chicago 6, Toronto 5--Robin Ventura and Lyle Mouton hit consecutive home runs in Chicago to lead the White Sox to their fifth consecutive victory. The Blue Jays lost their seventh in a row.

Milwaukee 7, Minnesota 6--Pinch-hitter Matt Mieske’s grand slam in the seventh inning at Minneapolis stopped the Brewers’ losing streak at six games.