Cameron Sends Message to Yankees

If a showdown with the three-time defending World Series champions was a test, record-chasing Seattle passed easily.

But the Mariners know that they can’t truly validate their remarkable season until October.

Mike Cameron homered twice and tied a Seattle record with eight runs batted in to help the Mariners defeat the New York Yankees, 10-2, Sunday at New York.

After being shut out Friday in the opener of the three-game series, the Mariners broke out for 17 runs to win the final two games of the possible playoff preview.

“It’s a good series for us,” Mariner Manager Lou Piniella said. “That’s all. I don’t look at it as anything else but that. A lot of things can happen between now and October.”

Cameron quieted the capacity crowd of 57,545 with a three-run home run in the first inning against Andy Pettitte (14-7) and sent many of the disappointed fans home early with his second career grand slam, in the seventh against Jay Witasick.

“I don’t think I ever had a day like that in Little League,” Cameron said. “To do it at Yankee Stadium is very special.”

Seattle (89-35) matched a franchise best of 54 games over .500 and remained undefeated (17-0-4) in 21 road series this year. The Mariners are on pace for 116 victories, which would match the major league record set by the Chicago Cubs in 1906.

“I don’t think we needed to prove anything,” Seattle’s Bret Boone said. “We’ve proven it all year.”

Cameron, who finished four for four, had a run-scoring single in the fifth, tying the club record for RBIs set by Alvin Davis in 1986 and matched by Mike Blowers in 1995. He tied the major league season high for RBIs in a game set by Oakland’s Miguel Tejada on June 30 at Texas.

Boone had two run-scoring singles, Jamie Moyer (14-5) won his fifth consecutive decision and the Mariners sent a message that they hope will carry over to October.

“Whether it is a statement series or not, if we get to meet them again in the postseason I don’t think anything that’s happened up until now will really matter,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said.

Seattle finished 6-3 against New York to win the season series for the second consecutive year. That regular-season success didn’t carry over to October last season, when Seattle lost the AL championship series to New York in six games.

“We have been successful against them this year, but the postseason is a different ballgame,” Boone said.

Moyer was injured when the two teams met in October, but he could be a key factor if the teams meet again.

He held the Yankees hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position and gave up five hits and one run in seven innings.

Seattle took a 4-0 lead in the first and knocked Pettitte around for eight runs and 13 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

“It’s a shame I couldn’t give us a chance today. I gave up too much there in the first for us to overcome,” Pettitte said.

Baltimore 13, Boston 7--The Orioles overcame a 6-1 deficit, pounding a season-high 19 hits at Boston.

Jeff Conine had a career-high five hits and drove in three runs and David Segui hit a home run and had three RBIs.

Chris Richard drove in three runs and Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Batista each had two RBIs for the Orioles, who scored three runs in the fifth inning and four in the sixth.

John Wasdin (1-0) held the Red Sox scoreless until the seventh.

Hipolito Pichardo (2-1) lost in relief of Hideo Nomo, who is winless in four starts since posting a 5-0 record in July.

Bostonremained five games behind AL East-leading New York.

Tampa Bay 5, Minnesota 1--Rookie Joe Kennedy (4-8) gave up one run and three hits in six innings at Minneapolis for his first victory since July 3, and Minnesota lost for the ninth time in 10 games.

The Twins, 10-27 since the All-Star break, produced four hits--three by Doug Mientkiewicz--and are 1-6 against the Devil Rays this season.

Oakland 8, Chicago 7--Jermaine Dye drove in four runs and pinch-hitter Jeremy Giambi hit a go-ahead, two-run home run against Rocky Biddle (4-8) in the sixth at Chicago to put Oakland ahead, 8-6.

Dye also homered and had a three-run double for the Athletics, who opened a four-game lead over Boston in the AL wild-card race.

Mike Magnante (2-1) pitched 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief and Jason Isringhausen earned his 25th save, allowing a run-scoring single to Tony Graffanino.

The Athletics have won 17 of 20 and are a major league-best 28-9 since the All-Star break.

Texas 8, Toronto 4--Alex Rodriguez hit his 37th home run and Rafael Palmeiro hit a two-run shot at Toronto.

Mike Lamb was three for five with a home run and two doubles for the Rangers, who have won consecutive games after losing their previous five.

Chris Carpenter (7-11) dropped to 0-7 in 11 starts since June 26, allowing six runs, six hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Aaron Myette (2-2) allowed four runs--three earned--and five hits in six innings.

Detroit 4, Kansas City 3--Nate Cornejo earned his first major league victory, giving up two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings at Detroit. Matt Anderson earned his 15th save.

Chad Durbin (1-4) gave up four runs--one earned--and seven hits for the second complete game of his career.

Durbin was hurt by shortstop Neifi Perez’s error in the fifth, which helped the Tigers break a 1-1 tie.