Justice Homer Lifts Indians

David Justice broke a tie with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, his 19th homer of the year and ninth off a left-hander, as the Cleveland Indians beat the Seattle Mariners, 6-2, Tuesday night.

Orel Hershiser held Seattle hitless for 4 2/3 innings before allowing consecutive homers to Russ Davis and Jose Cruz Jr. and leaving the game after five innings with a strained right groin.

Justice, a left-hander hitting .365 against lefties this season, hit a 2-0 pitch from Jeff Fassero deep into the visiting bullpen in right to break a 2-2 tie. It was Cleveland’s first homer in 47 innings, dating to the second inning of a game in Milwaukee last Thursday.

Marquis Grissom saved two runs when he leaped against the wall in left-center--reminiscent of former Indian Kenny Lofton--to rob Jay Buhner of a sure double with two outs and two on in the eighth.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s homerless slump reached a season-high 12 games. Griffey hit his 30th home run July 5, his only homer in 23 games.

David Weathers (1-1), who warmed up hurriedly and relieved Hershiser in the sixth, pitched two scoreless innings for his first victory since joining the Indians in a trade with the Yankees on June 9. Mike Jackson got the last five outs for his 14th save.

Fassero (8-6), winless in five starts since June 27, allowed four earned runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Cleveland is 2-4 against Seattle this season and 10-8 against the Mariners since beating them in six games in the 1995 AL championship series. Seattle lost for the first time in three games at Jacobs Field this season.

Manny Ramirez singled home a run in the first off Fassero to give the Indians a 1-0 lead. Matt Williams led off the second with a walk, scooted to second for his career-high eighth stolen base, and scored on a single by Julio Franco.

The Indians made it 5-2 in the seventh when Grissom doubled and scored on a triple by Tony Fernandez. Pat Borders doubled in Cleveland’s final run in the eighth.

Grissom made perhaps his best catch since taking over in center field for Lofton when he caught Buhner’s drive off Mike Jackson to end the eighth.

Hershiser, who left a spring training game with a strained groin, stretched his legs before giving up homers to Davis and Cruz in a span of three pitches. There was no immediate word on whether he would miss any starts.

The AL Central-leading Indians cannot afford to lose another pitcher. They already have five on the disabled list: starters Jack McDowell, Chad Ogea and Brian Anderson and relievers Albie Lopez and Paul Shuey.