Mariners Put Bats to Good Use, 10-3

Alex Rodriguez’s 28 home runs are no surprise to Ken Griffey Jr.

“He’s using my bat,” Griffey said Saturday after Rodriguez hit a long, two-run home run in the first inning, setting the tone for the Seattle Mariners’ 10-3 rout of the Yankees at New York.

Rodriguez became only the fifth right-handed batter and 10th player overall to homer into the “black”--the unoccupied center-field seats at Yankee Stadium--since 1977 with his shot off Kenny Rogers (10-6).

“I didn’t even see where it landed,” Rodriguez said. “I know I hit it good.”

The 21-year-old shortstop, who is leading the American League with a .361 average after his two-hit performance, said he asked Griffey if he could borrow a bat about 2 1/2 months ago. He broke that one a month later, and because he was hitting so well, he asked Griffey if he could borrow another.

“I begged Junior for another bat,” Rodriguez said. “I think he’s pretty mad at me.”

Jay Buhner added a three-run homer and Griffey a two-run homer as the Mariners built a 9-0 lead in four innings to win their second consecutive road game after a 1-8 home stand.

Jamie Moyer (9-2) limited the Yankees to eight hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Oakland 3, Baltimore 1--Ariel Prieto pitched four-hit ball over 8 1/3 innings and Terry Steinbach homered as the Athletics ended a season-high, five-game losing streak with the victory at Oakland.

Prieto blanked the Orioles, who had outscored Oakland, 37-11, in taking the first three games in the series, on two hits through six innings.

Prieto (4-5) struck out six and walked one in putting together consecutive victories for the first time in his career.

Cleveland 6, Detroit 3--Jim Thome hit his 25th homer, doubled and drove in two runs at Cleveland as the Indians defeated the Tigers for the 13th consecutive time.

Orel Hershiser (13-7) gave up seven hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings and sent the Tigers to their sixth loss in a row overall. They are 1-17 at Jacobs Field since the park opened in 1994.

A one-out error by shortstop Damion Easley on a grounder by Mark Carreon helped Cleveland score four unearned runs in the sixth inning and break a 2-2 tie.

Minnesota 11, Toronto 1--Dave Hollins hit a two-run homer and the Twins took advantage of two errors in a five-run second inning at Minneapolis.

Paul Molitor and Marty Cordova also drove in two runs each for the Twins, who have won four in a row and 11 of their last 13. Molitor’s two-run single was the key hit as Minnesota took a 5-0 lead in the second. It came immediately after left fielder Robert Perez dropped a two-out fly ball that let in two runs.

Rich Robertson (5-11) gave up three hits in 5 2/3 innings, leaving with a 7-0 lead. Erik Hanson (10-15) gave up seven runs, only three earned, in five innings to lose his third consecutive start.

The Blue Jays, who gave up nine walks, have lost four consecutive games and 10 of their last 12.

Chicago 6, Milwaukee 2--Robin Ventura homered for his 1,000th career hit and the White Sox ended a three-game losing streak with the victory at Milwaukee.

Ventura, who also had a run-scoring single in the third, gave Chicago a 3-1 lead with his 28th homer in the sixth inning.

Alex Fernandez (12-7) gave up 10 hits in 8 2/3 innings, walking none and striking out five. Roberto Hernandez got pinch-hitter John Jaha to bounce into a forceout for his 33rd save.

Darren Lewis singled home two runs off Doug Jones in the ninth for the White Sox.

Kansas City 4, Texas 1--At Arlington, Texas, Tim Belcher (12-7) pitched a six-hitter, walked none and struck out five in his second complete game of the season as he helped the Royals end the Rangers’ seven-game winning streak.

Ken Hill (13-7), who had won six of his last seven decisions, gave up a career-high 13 hits in 7 1/3 innings for the Rangers.