White Sox pummel Mariners

Griffey ties Sosa on home run list

Ken Griffey Jr. celebrates with Carlos Quentin after the pair scored on Griffey's two-run homer against Seattle in the second inning in Chicago. (M. SPENCER GREEN/Associated Press)

Ken Griffey Jr. thought it was just a matter of time. His first home run with the White Sox was still a pretty sweet sight for manager Ozzie Guillen.

Griffey hit one of Chicago's four homers to move into a tie with Sammy Sosa for fifth on the career list and the surging White Sox routed the Seattle Mariners, 15-3, yesterday in Chicago.

"It's weird," Griffey said. "I've watched Sammy throughout the years. Tying him, it's OK, I guess."

Griffey's two-run drive in the second inning was his first since Chicago acquired him from Cincinnati July 31, and No. 609 for his career. The 13-time All-Star was just 9 for 43 with four RBIs and no extra-base hits for the White Sox entering the game.

Alexei Ramirez and A.J. Pierzynski hit three-run homers for Chicago, which has won eight of nine to maintain a one-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central. Nick Swisher homered for the third straight game.

Griffey hit an RBI single and Ramirez connected for his 14th homer in Chicago's six-run first against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (3-8), who lasted just two innings. Griffey made it 8-0 with a drive to right after going 46 at-bats without a homer.

"I don't really worry about that," he said. "Everybody else does. I'm more concerned about getting hits and getting on base. You get hits and home runs happen. But it is good to get the first one at home."

Chicago has scored 13 or more runs in three of its last four games. The 15 runs were one short of its season high.

Angels 5, Rays 4 - Given a final chance to extend his hitting streak to 23 games, Garret Anderson delivered for visiting Los Angeles with a ninth-inning infield single that drove in the winning run in a victory over Tampa Bay.

Anderson struck out with the bases loaded in the seventh, when Los Angeles wasted an opportunity to break the game open. But he came through in the same situation in the ninth, after the Rays tied it 4-all on Carlos Peña's RBI double off Jose Arredondo (5-1).

Yankees 5, Blue Jays 1 - Derek Jeter hit a two-run homer, Andy Pettitte (13-9) pitched seven strong innings to snap a four-start winless streak, and New York won in Toronto.

Jeter's homer in the fourth inning was his eighth of the season and the 203d of his career, moving him past Bill Dickey and into a tie with Roger Maris for 11th place on the Yankees' all-time list.

He was 3 for 5 and is two hits shy of 2,500 for his career. He is batting .571 (16 for 27) over his last six games.

Twins 3, Athletics 1 - Mike Redmond drove in two runs for host Minnesota, which survived some wildness by Francisco Liriano (4-3) and sent Oakland to its 11th straight series defeat.

Rangers 9, Tigers 1 - Kevin Millwood scattered six hits in his second complete game of the season, and Josh Hamilton hit one of five homers off Detroit starter Nate Robertson in the Rangers' victory in Arlington, Texas.

Indians 8, Royals 5 - Franklin Gutierrez hit a three-run homer in a five-run eighth inning, and host Cleveland rallied to defeat Kansas City. The Indians' first four hits were home runs, including two by Kelly Shoppach, as they won for the ninth time in 12 games.

Phillies 4, Nationals 0 - Brett Myers tossed a nine-hitter for his first shutout in four years and host Philadelphia handed Washington its 12th straight loss.

Rockies 4, Dodgers 3 - Brad Hawpe had three RBIs, including singles that drove in the tying and go-ahead runs, and visiting Colorado capitalized on four errors by Los Angeles for a victory.

Giants 6, Marlins 5 - Bengie Molina's sacrifice fly with one out in the bottom of the ninth gave host San Francisco the victory over Florida.

Brewers 5, Astros 2 - Manny Parra won for the first time since July 20, J.J. Hardy hit a two-run homer, and Milwaukee defeated visiting Houston.

Cardinals 11, Pirates 2 - Rick Ankiel and Jason LaRue hit two-run home runs and Todd Wellemeyer (11-4) led St. Louis over visiting Pittsburgh for the third time this season.

Diamondbacks 8, Padres 6 - Adam Dunn hit his NL-leading 34th home run, his second in as many games, and Arizona beat Jake Peavy and San Diego in Phoenix.

Reds 2, Cubs 1 - Bronson Arroyo allowed three hits and a run in seven strong innings and Cincinnati cooled off host Chicago.