Overtime No Help to Griffey, Mariners

Six extra innings didn’t help Ken Griffey Jr. to gain on Roger Maris. They didn’t help the Mariners, either.

Griffey failed to homer in five at-bats, and Seattle’s magic number for clinching the AL West remained at three with a 4-3, 15-inning loss to the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

Seattle’s lead was cut to five games when the Angels won, 7-6 at Texas.

“We had a lot of opportunities. We had the right people up there, too. We just didn’t get it done,” Mariner Manager Lou Piniella said.

Griffey, who hit his 53rd home run in the ninth inning Friday night, had one hit in five at-bats with two walks and has seven games remaining.

He walked in the first, flied out to right in the third, singled to center in the fifth, popped to short in the seventh, struck out in the ninth, flied to center in the 11th and walked in the 14th.

Griffey is one homer behind Mark McGwire of St. Louis, who leads the majors with 54.

Jason Giambi homered twice for the Athletics, and Izzy Molina won it with a homer leading off the 15th.

“Every game counts, especially at this stage of the game,” said Seattle’s Rob Ducey, who homered in the first inning for a 1-0 lead. “My home run is just a footnote,” he said. “We have a large lead, but we can’t take anything for granted.”

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NEXT SERIES FOR ANGELS

WHO: Seattle Mariners

WHERE: at Seattle

WHEN: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.