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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Griffey's return sparks Mariners

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Ken Griffey Jr

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SEATTLE — Ken Griffey Jr. had only one concern about his first Mariners home game in 10 years.

"Don't trip on the red carpet!" the 39-year-old slugger said.

The Mariners rolled out that and much more for Griffey in their latest — and perhaps loudest — home opener since 1982.

More strong starting pitching, this time from 2008 flop Carlos Silva, preceded Franklin Gutierrez's leadoff double in the 10th inning. Gutierrez then scored the winning run on a throwing error by pitcher Scot Shields, giving Seattle a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels yesterday.

The surprising Mariners (6-2) are off to their best start since 2001, the last time they reached the playoffs. They have won five consecutive games, longer than any win streak in 2008.

"It's more about the 25 guys in here, not just me. It just so happens for me it was my return, but we've got something special going on in here," Griffey said.

Baseball's active leader with 612 home runs went 1-for-3 with a walk in his first home game for the Mariners since Sept. 26, 1999.

Safeco Field was sold out (45,958) for just the second time in 12 months. It rocked when he was introduced before the game and again before he singled in his first at-bat.

"When they called 'Ken Griffey Jr.!' I was still on the mound (in the bullpen), but I stopped to watch," Silva said of the pregame scene. "It was amazing. I never saw anything like that, that crowd, that intensity."

Silva, a bust in 2008 to begin a $48 million, four-year contract, allowed just four hits and two runs in seven innings. His biggest mistake was a 3-1 fastball that Torii Hunter sent soaring just under the second deck beyond left field for a solo homer. That tied the game at 2 in the sixth.

YANKEES 7, RAYS 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A.J. Burnett (2-0) took a no-hit bid into the seventh, Nick Swisher homered for the third time in four games, Mark Teixeira's eighth-inning sacrifice fly broke a 2-all tie, and Derek Jeter hit a three-run homer in a four-run ninth to lead New York over Tampa Bay.

TWINS 3, BLUE JAYS 2

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Crede's double off the center-field fence in the bottom of the 11th inning scored Justin Morneau from first base, lifting Minnesota over Toronto, which had won 10 straight over the Twins.

ROYALS 9, INDIANS 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — John Buck broke open a tight game with a grand slam for his second homer of the night and had a career-high five RBIs, powering Kansas City over Cleveland for its third consecutive victory.

ORIOLES 7, RANGERS 5

ARLINGTON, Texas — Adam Jones hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer and Luke Scott added a two-run double in the top of the 10th inning as Baltimore held on to hand Texas, which scored two runs in the bottom of the 10th, its fifth straight loss.

A'S 6, RED SOX 5

OAKLAND, Calif. — Travis Buck barely beat out an infield single with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning, scoring pinch-runner Rajai Davis to give Oakland a victory over Boston. The Red Sox (2-6) are off to their worst start since 1996.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

MARLINS 5, BRAVES 1

ATLANTA — Dan Uggla drove in three runs, Chris Volstad (2-0) gave up three hits and one run in seven innings, and two relievers finished the four-hitter as Florida improved to 6-1 — all against NL East opponents — for its best start since opening 1997 with an 8-1 record.

REDS 6, BREWERS 1

MILWAUKEE — Bronson Arroyo (2-0) held Milwaukee to four hits in six-plus innings, including a solo homer by J.J. Hardy, and Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a two-run homer for Cincinnati, which has won the first two games of the series.

D-BACKS 7, CARDS 6

PHOENIX — Eric Byrnes hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning that lifted Arizona over St. Louis, which saw its five-game winning streak end and lost starting pitcher Chris Carpenter with a strained left ribcage in the fourth.