Martinez Feasts on a Pitch

The Seattle Mariners’ Edgar Martinez sized up the situation in the first inning Monday night at Kansas City, Mo., and realized that after the Royals’ Miguel Batista had missed the plate on nine consecutive pitches he might see something fat.

He did and hit the pitch for a three-run, 444-foot home run to center field in spurring the Mariners to a 5-3 victory.

The homer drove in Mark McLemore and Alex Rodriguez, who had walked on eight pitches.

“When the pitcher gets behind, I get aggressive,” said Martinez, who has 19 homers and 68 RBIs. “I tried to keep it simple and get a good pitch to hit. And I got it.”

Martinez also had an RBI grounder and the Mariners moved into first place in the American League West, a half-game ahead of Oakland. As important is their 33-27 record, the Mariners’ best 60-game mark in franchise history. Seattle had been 32-28 three times, most recently in 1997 with former franchise player Ken Griffey Jr.

Said Mariner Manager Lou Piniella: “We’ve had some adversity here, especially injuries to our starting pitching. These kids have played hard.”

Jamie Moyer (4-2) gave up three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, allowing only one runner--on a walk--during a 13-batter stretch starting in the third.

“He’s a finesse pitcher who comes at you with a fastball and changeup,” said Kansas City’s Mike Sweeney, who was 0 for 4. “That’s basically his arsenal. He changed locations, changed speeds and we were just getting under the ball, popping it up.”

Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances, retiring Gregg Zaun on a game-ending fly ball to the wall in right-center with a man on.

“We had a chance, as lopsided as that game was for a number of innings,” Kansas City manager Tony Muser said. “Zaun hit that ball pretty good.”

Batista (2-6) lost his fifth consecutive start, giving up gave up five runs, seven hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Chicago 8, Cleveland 7--Frank Thomas hit a two-run homer and Ray Durham had three RBIs for the White Sox, who opened a three-game lead over the Indians at Cleveland in what was supposed to be their first test this season.

The Indians, five-time defending division champions, got within 8-7 in the ninth inning on Jim Thome’s home run, but Keith Foulke got Sandy Alomar Jr. to hit into a game-ending double play. The Indians, who left 14 runners on base Sunday, stranded seven more in the final three innings and went one for nine with men in scoring position.

Cal Eldred (7-2) pitched six effective innings for the White Sox, who hadn’t been in first place while playing in Cleveland since July 21, 1994. They have won 10 of their last 12 and are beginning a stretch in which they will play the Indians seven times, and the World Series champion New York Yankees in seven more.

“We need to keep pushing,” said White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel, whose team has an American League-best 38-24 record. “If people don’t believe, fine. But we have to stay driven if we’re going to have a chance and stay competitive for the long haul.”

Minnesota 7, Oakland 2--Eric Milton struck out a season-high 11 and won his fourth consecutive decision, and Butch Huskey hit a tiebreaking homer off the glove of Jason Giambi in the Twins’ victory at Minneapolis.

Milton (6-1) gave up both runs and seven hits in seven innings, having no problem with a bruised leg that caused him to leave his June 6 start at Houston after two innings.

Milton, trailing 2-0, was in trouble in the third inning with runners on second and third and no outs. Then he struck out John Jaha and Matt Stairs, and Olmedo Saenz lined to center.

“We had him on the ropes and we let him off,” Oakland manager Art Howe said. “Not only didn’t we score more runs in that inning, but they tied the game up.”

Toronto 4, Detroit 2--Frank Castillo pitched seven strong innings and Brad Fullmer had two hits, including a homer, for the Blue Jays at Detroit.

Castillo (2-5) gave up five hits in his first win since May 2.

Boston at New York, ppd.--One night after their showdown with the Mets was postponed, the opener of New York’s series with Boston was washed out. It was rescheduled for Sept. 11.