Cameron, Boone Deliver

Junior got outplayed by the guy who replaced him. Bret Boone did a number on the rest of his family too.

And once Freddy Garcia got rolling, the Cincinnati Reds had no chance.

Boone and Mike Cameron hit homers, and the Seattle Mariners rode another impressive start by Garcia to a 2-0 victory Wednesday night that nudged the teams in opposite directions.

The Mariners stretched their lead to three games in the American League West, while the Reds fell two games behind St. Louis in the National League Central--their biggest deficit since April 22.

“You just have to live through it and keep pushing,” Red Manager Bob Boone said. “We faced a guy who was awful tough tonight.”

Garcia (10-4) gave up three hits in eight innings and retired the last 12 batters he faced, winning his sixth consecutive start. He also had a single and a double.

Garcia easily handled a lineup that had Ken Griffey Jr. back for the second consecutive game. Griffey was hit by a pitch in the first inning, grounded out and struck out before getting a single.

Cameron led off the second with a homer against Elmer Dessens (4-3), ending a 0-for-12 slump. He replaced Griffey in center field in Seattle after their February 2000 trade.

“It felt like old times,” Cameron said. “It felt good to do that. I did what you’re supposed to do if you get a pitch to hit, and the ball carries well in this park.”

Boone led off the fourth with his ninth homer. The second baseman also made the pivotal play in the first inning, diving onto the outfield grass to snag Sean Casey’s grounder and then throwing him out from his knees with two runners aboard.

“I did it for a lot of years in Cincinnati,” said Boone, who won a Gold Glove and set a major league fielding record for second basemen with the Reds. “I’m very happy with that side of it. The frustrations I’ve had have been at the plate.”

Boone is hitting .232, but has been sensational in the field.