MINNEAPOLIS — It didn't take long for Ken Griffey Jr. to get back into the swing of things with the Seattle Mariners.

Playing his first game with Seattle since 1999, Griffey homered leading off the fifth inning against Minnesota's Francisco Liriano. It was his eighth career home run on opening day, tying him with Hall of Famer Frank Robinson for the most all-time.

Griffey opened his career with 11 brilliant seasons in Seattle before he was traded to his hometown Cincinnati Reds in 2000. After playing almost nine seasons with the Reds, and finishing last year with the Chicago White Sox, Griffey returned to the Mariners for a one-year, $2 million deal.

It was his 612th career homer and 41st against the Twins, the most against any opponent.