Homer Drought Over for Griffey

Ken Griffey Jr. ended his longest home-run drought in more than a year. To him, it was no big deal.

Griffey hit his 42nd homer Saturday, ending a 12-game power outage that had stretched 54 at-bats, and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Chicago White Sox, 13-7.

“I don’t have anything to say,” is all Griffey said to reporters following the game.

Griffey homered off Jaime Navarro (8-14) in the first inning--his first since July 30--to end his longest homerless streak since July 5-July 25, 1997.

“Griff’s been scuffling a little bit, but he’ll get it going,” Mariner Manager Lou Piniella said.

Griffey’s homer off Navarro on a 1-2 pitch went to the opposite field, just clearing the left-field wall.

“You never know with him,” Mariner pitcher Bill Swift said. “The ball was in the other batter’s box when he hit it. If we can get him back on track, we’ll be OK.”

Griffey, who has made it clear all season he has no interest in the chase of Roger Maris’ home run record, is third in the major leagues in home runs, trailing Mark McGwire (47) and Sammy Sosa (46).

“I don’t worry about home runs,” Griffey said Friday before the series began. “You got to think about hitting it hard and then if it goes out, it’s a plus. I don’t think about home runs like everybody wants me to and they think I should.”

Navarro has given up 27 homers this season, second in the league behind Charles Nagy. He yielded seven hits and seven runs in four innings in having his earned-run average go up to 6.24 and could be removed from the rotation.

“It’s been a struggle all year and there is some concern about his situation,” White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel said. “We have to discuss this and sit down with the heads of state and make a decision for his sake.”

Russ Davis and Jay Buhner also homered for Seattle, and Swift (10-6) gave up two runs--one earned--and five hits in five innings to get his first victory since July 17.

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Next Series For Angels

WHO: Chicago White Sox

WHERE: Edison Field

WHEN: Monday, 7; Tuesday, 7 p.m.