Orioles Outslug Mariners

The Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners staged another home run derby, and the result was nearly identical.

Rafael Palmeiro hit his second game-winning homer in as many days, a two-run shot in the 10th inning that carried the Orioles to a 9-8 victory Tuesday.

Palmeiro connected off Bobby Ayala (0-5) immediately after Harold Baines opened the inning with a single. Ken Griffey Jr. had given Seattle the lead in the top of the 10th with his second homer of the game, a solo drive off Norm Charlton (1-1).

Palmeiro’s 14th homer marked yet another collapse by Seattle’s faulty bullpen and ended a second straight slugfest between the teams, who combined for eight homers Monday night in the Orioles’ 10-9 victory.

“They’re probably the best offensive team in all of baseball, but we’re not too shaky. The last two nights we’ve been able to keep up with them,” said Palmeiro, who also tripled and singled.

Griffey had three hits, including a three-run homer and his 21st of the season in the 10th. Alex Rodriguez hit his 21st home run for the Mariners, who have a team-record 13 homers in their last three games and a major league best 97 for the season.

“The home runs don’t matter. We just lost another game,” Rodriguez said. “Give me some wins. The personal stuff doesn’t matter.”

Although obviously agitated, Seattle Manager Lou Piniella said, “I’m not getting myself upset anymore, I’m really not. This club goes out and plays hard.”

The Orioles got a three-run homer from Brady Anderson, a two-run drive from Cal Ripken and a solo shot from B.J. Surhoff.