Mariners’ Griffey ties slams record

Lost in the shuffle of last year’s home run chase and overshadowed by Jose Canseco’s power surge this season, Ken Griffey Jr. still has a lot of drama left in his bat.

On Friday night, the Seattle Mariners’ slugger became the 12th American League player and 18th in the major leagues to hit grand slams in consecutive games.

The last player to get consecutive slams – Sammy Sosa, in the midst of his pursuit of the home-run record with Mark McGwire last July 27-28.

Griffey’s second slam in two nights came off Toronto left-hander Graeme Lloyd’s first pitch in the eighth inning, lifting the Mariners to an 11-9 victory. It was much more than Griffey was aiming for.

“I’m just looking to stay out of the double play,” the Mariners’ All-Star center fielder said. “That’s the biggest thing in that situation, staying out of the double play and giving your team a chance.”

Griffey’s big game – 2-for-5 with five RBIs – followed his two-homer, six-RBI game Thursday night, a 22-6 win over Detroit.

His six RBIs against the Tigers tied his career high and his 11 RBIs in consecutive games set a Mariners record.

“I don’t worry much about that,” Griffey said. “The main thing is the two wins.”

The 29-year-old Griffey didn’t come close to the 70 home runs McGwire hit last season, or even the 66 Sosa had. But he did hit 56 for the second consecutive year and he had nine in the first month this season, one behind Tampa Bay’s Canseco, the major league home run leader.

Now, in his 11th season, he’s moved past Yogi Berra into a tie for 47th on the all-time homer list with Johnny Mize at 359 – or 396 behind Henry Aaron’s career mark of 755.

Not bad for a player who was mired in a 1-for-18 slump before Thursday night’s game with Detroit.

Chili Davis, now with the New York Yankees, gave Griffey some advice in Griffey’s rookie season in 1989, something he always remembers in those rare times of trouble at the plate.

“I was something like 1-for-16,” Griffey said. “Chili came up to me and said, `I had a stretch when I was 10-for-90. Don’t worry about it, kid. You’ll be fine.'”

The usually unemotional Griffey celebrated after Friday night’s slam. As the ball cleared the Kingdome wall in right center, he lifted his arms in the air while rounding first base and broke out in a big smile as he reached the Mariners’ dugout.

“It was just emotion from coming from behind,” said Griffey, who was 1-for-9 in his career against Lloyd before then. “Anytime you come from behind, it gives the team a lift.”

Griffey’s 12th career grand slam gave the Mariners a modest three-game winning streak and brought them within one game of .500. Until now, it’s been another tough season for the Mariners, who were a disappointing third in the AL West last year, but they overcame 6-1 and 7-3 deficits to win their last two.

“That’s a positive,” Griffey said of the comeback wins. “That this team never gives up.” Associated Press