Griffey Breaks April Homer Record

During batting practice, Ken Griffey Jr. hit the ball over the wall on his final three swings. The last shot bounced off the Jumbotron scoreboard in center, about 475 from home plate.

It was a sign of things to come.

Griffey hit three home runs Friday night to break the major league record for homers in April with 13, powering the Seattle Mariners to a 13-8 victory over the Blue Jays at Toronto.

“I swung the bat and hit three out,” said Griffey. “I don’t ever go up there trying to hit homers. Whatever happens, happens.”

Griffey homered off Roger Clemens in the third and seventh innings, then connected off reliever Mike Timlin in the eighth for the third three-homer game of his career.

He broke the record of 11 homers in April that was shared by Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield, Brady Anderson, Willie Stargell, Graig Nettles and Mike Schmidt. The major league record for homers in one month is 18, by Detroit’s Rudy York in August 1937.

Russ Davis hit a two-run, pinch-hit homer for Seattle, and Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run shot for the Mariners.

The Blue Jays also showed some power. Shawn Green hit two homers for Toronto, and Carlos Delgado had his first grand slam.

Cleveland 11, Milwaukee 4--Matt Williams hit three homers, David Justice homered twice and Cleveland hit a club record eight in all, including three in one inning as the Indians won at Milwaukee.

The Brewers hit three homers as the teams combined to match a major-league record for home runs in a nine-inning night game. Toronto and Baltimore were the last teams to hit 11 in a night game on Sept. 14, 1987. The record of 12 homers was set by Detroit and Chicago on May 28, 1995.

Williams hit solo homers in the fourth and seventh innings before connecting for a two-run shot in the eighth for the first three-homer game of his career.

Texas 6, Minnesota 3--Will Clark’s two-run homer capped a five-run third inning that sent the Rangers over the Twins at Minneapolis.

Ivan Rodriguez added a two-run double in the third as the Rangers won for the fourth time in five games. Minnesota has lost three in a row.

Ken Hill (2-2) gave up four hits in 6 2/3 innings for Texas. The right-hander struck out seven and walked four before giving way to Xavier Hernandez.

Chicago 9, New York 3--Frank Thomas and Albert Belle homered for the first time as teammates and the White Sox defeated the Yankees at New York for their first two-game winning streak of 1997.

Thomas drove in four runs with his second consecutive four-hit game. The White Sox built a 9-0 lead behind Wilson Alvarez (1-3) and ended the Yankees’ three-game winning streak.

Thomas, who had gone 74 at-bats this year without a homer and 95 overall, hit a three-run shot that capped a four-run second inning. Belle led off the fifth with his third home run, a 421-foot drive off David Wells (1-1).

Kansas City 10, Oakland 3--Chili Davis hit his seventh career grand slam and Kevin Appier pitched seven strong innings as the Royals defeated the Athletics at Oakland.

Appier (3-0) struck out seven--including Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco twice each--and gave up two runs on five hits. He did not give up a walk.

Davis, who singled in the Royals’ first run in the first inning, hit his first homer of the season in the sixth off reliever Richie Lewis. The grand slam capped a five-run inning for Kansas City.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Matt Williams Cleveland 3 for 5, 3 HRs, 4 RBIs Win Ken Griffey Jr. Seattle 3 for 5, 3 HRs, 3 RBIs Win Will Clark Texas 2 for 4, hit safely in six starts since off DL Win Shawn Green Toronto 2 for 4, 2 HRs, 2 RBIs Loss

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Wilson Alvarez Chicago 7 2/3 innings, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 4 strikeouts Win Scott Erickson Baltimore 8 innings, 0 runs, 5th win in a row over Boston Win

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