Ken Griffey Jr seems to be on a personal mission to show that he in fact is the best power man the game has ever seen. In the first month of the season Junior has hammered nine home runs behind his picture perfect swing and has especially of late been lighting it up. Junior has homered in four of his last five game.
Griffey along with his big bat also plays a flawless centerfield, covering ground and robbing home runs. Griffey is also batting .303 on the year with 17 runs batted in.
"He is excited to prove that he belongs among the best to ever play" says manager Lou Piniella of his star player.
The Mariners as a team are now quite as impressive as they have lost their last two games and are on the verge of being swept out of Cleveland. Seattle is 7-10 but still only 2 games outside the top. Other then Randy Johnson, pitching has been an issue for the Mariners and some of their starters like Felix Hernandez (5.23) and Gaylord Perry (6.39).
At Royals Stadium
Atlanta (8-9).........1
KC Royals (11-6).....5
WP: Bret Saberhagen (4-1)
LP: Greg Maddux (1-4)
HR: Hal Mcrae (1)
Greg Maddux strikes out 11 but loses still as Hal McRae drives in two along with Mike Sweeney in the win. Bret Saberhagen continues to impress allowing only one earned run in nine innings.
Player of the game: Bret Saberhagen (9 IP, ER, 3 BB, 7 K)
At Sky Dome
Chicago White Sox (7-10)...........2
Toronto (5-12).........................1 (11 inn)
WP: Ed Walsh (1-4)
LP: Roy Halladay (0-4)
Ray Schalk hits a sacrafice fly after a Nellie Fox double in the 10th and the White Sox get a close win in Toronto. Ed Walsh finally puts together a fine peformance and Roy Halladay is again a hard luck loser.
Player of the game: Ed Walsh (11 IP, 3 BB, ER, 6 K)
At Great American Ballpark
Milwaukee (3-14)...............4
Cincinnati (8-9)................6
WP: Eppa Rixey (4-1)
LP: Don Sutton (0-5)
S: Mario Soto (1)
HR: Edd Roush (2)
The Reds try to fight back to .500 as they beat the hapless Brewers. Tony Perez and Ed Roush go 3-4 and Eppa Rixey does enough to win as Mario Soto finds a new role with a save.
Player of the game: Edd Roush (3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR)
At Yankee Stadium
Detroit Tigers (13-4).............5
NY Yankees (10-7)...............1
WP: Denny McLain (3-0)
LP: Whitey Ford (2-3)
HR: Alan Trammell (2)
Yogi Berra goes 3-3 but the rest of the Yankees are held down by Denny McLain. Miguel Cabreara continues his hot month with two more hits and Alan Trammell drive in two as Detroit remains red hot.
Player of the game: Denny McLain (8 IP, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K)
At Att Park
NY Mets (7-10).................1
SF Giants (10-7)................2
WP: Christy Mathewson (4-1)
LP: Tom Seaver (0-4)
A two hitter for Mathewson as he has found his top form again and completely handcuffs the Mets despite a very good start from Tom Seaver. A clear night and pretty sight at the Bay but storm clouds remain for the Mets.
Player of the game: Christy Mathewson (9 IP, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
At Camden Yards
LA Angels (7-10).................3
Baltimore (12-5)..................0
WP: Frank Tanana (3-1)
LP: Jim Pamer (2-2)
HR: Doug Decinces (1)
A scoreless game into the 9th came down to one atbat as little Doug Decinces hit a three run home run for the visitors that would stand for the win. Frank Tanana and Jim Palmer were very good but the one blow as the diffrence.
Player of the game: Frank Tanana (9 IP, 0 ER, 3 K, 4 H)
At Dodger Stadium
Philadelphia (8-9)..................3
LA Dodgers (8-9)...................2
WP: Pete Alexander (3-2)
LP: Sandy Koufax (1-2)
Koufax was pitching a shutout until the 8th inning when Dick Allen singled a run in and the Phils added two more runs in the 9th. It is rare that Koufax would blow a lead but that is what kind of year it has been so far for the Dodgers.
Player of the game: Pete Alexander (9 IP, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K)
At Fenway Park
Minnesota (10-7)................12
Boston (9-8).....................7
WP: Johan Santana (3-2)
LP: Cy Young (2-2)
HR: Tony Oliva (1), Tris Speaker (2). Jim Rice (2)
Cy Young just hasnt had it this month as the Twins score 12 runs and add 16 hits at Fenway. Tony Oliva drives in four in a game that wasnt as close as the scoreline since Boston added four runs in the 9th.
Player of the game: Tony Oliva (2-5, 4 RBI, HR, 2 R)
At Oakland Coliseum
Texas (9-8).................4
Oakland (7-10)..............3
WP: Nolan Ryan (3-1)
LP: Lefty Grove (2-3)
S: Jeff Russell (1)
HR: Ivan Rodriguez (1)
Nolan Ryan allows only three hits but walks an incredible 10 men in 8 innings. Lefty Grove throws over 150 pitches in his loss as Ivan Rodriguez drives in two and an early Texas lead holds up.
Player of the game: Nolan Ryan (7.1 IP, 3 ER, 10 BB, 5 K)
At Busch Stadium
Washington (9-8)...............5
St. Louis (10-7)...................7
WP: Bob Gibson (3-1)
LP: Walter Johnson (2-3)
HR: Joe Medwick (3)
No pitchers duel in this game as Walter Johnson now sees his ERA go over 5 as he allowed seven today. Joe Medwick goes 4-4 with a long one as Bob Gibon doesnt pitch great but gets the win.
Player of the game: Joe Medwick (4-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR)
At PNC Park
Chicago (14-3).................6
Pittsburgh (6-11)...............1
WP: Fergie Jenkins (3-0)
LP: Babe Adams (2-3)
HR: Andre Dawson (3), Bill Madlock (1)
Cubs continue to roll as Fergie Jenkins pitches another very strong game. Andre Dawson hits a three run home run while Gabby Hartnett also adds three hits as the Cubs are showing a potent team early on.
Player of the game: Fergie Jenkins (9 IP, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)
At Cleveland Stadium
Seattle (7-10)..................2
Cleveland (6-11)...............4
WP: Bob Feller (2-3)
LP: Randy Johnson (2-1)
HR: Ken Griffey JR (9)
If the Mariners can win when Randy Johnson is on the mound and Griffey homers then it will be a long year. Manny Ramirez is still struggling for the Indians but a three run third inning was enough for Bob Feller.
Player of the game: Bob Feller (9 IP, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 K)