Rare grand slam for pitcher Hernandez in Mariners win

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (R) reacts as New York Mets runner Carlos Beltran gets up after he slid into Hernandez's leg, scoring on a wild pitch in the fifth inning of their MLB Interleague baseball game in New York June 23, 2008. Hernandez had to leave the game. (REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Felix Hernandez became the first American League pitcher to hit a grand slam home run in 37 years, his blast helping the Seattle Mariners record a 5-2 win over the New York Mets in interleague play on Monday.

Hernandez drilled a shot to right-center field off fellow Venezuelan Johan Santana with two outs in the second inning to put the Mariners in front 4-0, before leaving the game with an ankle injury in the fifth inning.

It was the first home run by a Mariners pitcher and the first grand slam home run by an AL hurler since May 11, 1971, when Steve Dunning of Cleveland connected with the bases loaded off Oakland's Diego Segui.

The Mariners ace figured it was his first home run since Little League baseball and said he was as surprised as anyone.

"I closed my eyes," Hernandez told reporters.

"I was happy and I was thinking that's all I need -- four runs."

It was all the Mariners needed to win but Hernandez's historic accomplishment was marred three innings later when he sprained his left ankle while covering home plate after he uncorked a wild pitch.

Carlos Beltran raced home from third base on the play, sliding into Hernandez's feet. Hernandez attempted a warm-up pitch but had to be helped off the field by team trainers afterwards, in obvious pain.

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X-rays revealed no damage and Hernandez says he does not think the injury is serious.

"I didn't want to come out of the game," he said. "Sure, I'll be there (for his next start)."

Since he pitched just 4 2/3 innings, Hernandez missed qualifying for a win by one out.

Reliever Roy Corcoran went 1 1/3 hitless innings and Ryan Rowland-Smith (2-1) tossed two perfect innings to get the victory, with Arthur Rhodes finishing up for the save.

Santana said Hernandez just hit a pretty good pitch.

"There's nothing you can do about it," Santana said. "He had a pretty good swing."

Seattle is now 2-2 since new manager Jim Riggleman replaced the fired John McLaren. The Mariners have won just 12 times in 37 road games this season.

New York's interim manager Jerry Manuel's record dropped to 3-3 in his first game at Shea Stadium since he relieved the fired Willie Randolph.

He was not pleased with his team's offensive performance, especially after Hernandez was forced out of the game.

"We will definitely have to make some adjustments offensively," Manuel said.

(Writing by Roger Lajoie; Editing by John O'Brien).