Ken Griffey Jr. hit his career-high 50th home run Sunday, marking the 22nd time the mark has been reached in major-league history, but his Seattle Mariners lost to the Minnesota Twins 9-6 in Minneapolis.
“I’d rather have the win,” said a subdued Griffey, whose team’s lead over Anaheim in the AL West was cut to four games. “All I want to do is play in the playoffs and win a World Series.”
With 19 games left, Griffey is 11 homers short of matching Roger Maris’ record of 61 set in 1961.
Griffey connected for a two-run drive in the fourth inning off Bob Tewksbury (6-11).
Blue Jays 4, Rangers 0: Roger Clemens (21-5) pitched a two-hitter in Toronto, tying Jack Morris’ club record for wins in a season.
Clemens struck out 14 and din’t walk anyone in his third shutout of the season and 41st of his career, lowering his ERA to a league-best 1.85.
Angels 5, Tigers 4: Anaheim ended a five-game losing streak, when Tony Phillips doubled and scored on Robert Eenhorn’s sacrifice fly in the top of the 15th inning.
The teams combined for 33 strikeouts, including 21 in extra innings, tying the major-league mark set by Atlanta and St. Louis last May 16 for the most strikeouts in a game.
Yankees 10, Orioles 3: Kenny Rogers got his first win in more than a month and host New York used four home runs to beat Baltimore for the first time this season after seven losses.
Red Sox 11, Brewers 2: In Boston, Troy O’Leary hit his first career grand slam and John Valentin homered twice for the Red Sox.
Athletics 9, Royals 4: In Kansas City, Eric Ludwick earned his first major-league win and Oakland scored nine runs for the third straight game.
