A-Rod, M's Get Royal Welcome

Kauffman Stadium had been the one source of frustration for Alex Rodriguez.

That ended Thursday when Rodriguez hit his first career home run in Kansas City and drove in three runs to help John Halama win his eighth straight decision as the Seattle Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 8-4.

Until Thursday, though, he said he was jinxed at Kauffman.

"I've hit eight to 10 balls off the top of that wall," Rodriguez said. "I was glad to see that ball get over. I was beginning to think it was impossible."

He left little doubt about this one.

"He got it all," Seattle manager Lou Piniella said. "That one definitely found the water."

Rodriguez reverted to his old ways in the sixth, however. After Ken Griffey Jr. was intentionally walked, his drive to left field hit off the top of the fence. The double drove in two runs for a 7-4 lead.

Royals manager Tony Muser said Rodriguez's hit was the key to Seattle's win. Mike Sweeney and Jermaine Dye had hit consecutive solo home runs in the fourth to bring Kansas City within 5-4.

"They presented us with two of the best hitters in the AL," Muser said. "We passed on one (Griffey) and made a mistake with a fastball down the middle. That was really the ballgame."

Russ Davis, who drove in three runs, and Edgar Martinez also homered as the Mariners broke a three-game losing streak.

Working in temperatures over 100 degrees, Halama (8-2) moved within one win of the team record for consecutive victories shared by Scott Bankhead (1989) and Dave Fleming (1992).

"I trying to not even think about that," Halama said of his streak. "The heat really wasn't a factor except that my eyes were burning because of the sweat and I kept rubbing them."

Halama, with the help of three scoreless innings from reliever Paul Abbott, improved to 6-0 in 12 starts this season. He pitched five innings, allowing four runs and six hits before being pulled because of the heat and high humidity.

Jeff Suppan (5-6) was tagged for seven runs and 11 hits in 5 1-3 innings as the Royals had their three-game winning streak stopped and failed to sweep the Mariners at home for the first time since 1992.

"It would have been big for us to have a winning streak. I wish it could have been a sweep," Suppan said.

Davis had a two-run homer in the second. Jeremy Giambi had a two-run double in the bottom half to tie it.

Davis and Brian Hunter, who went 3-for-5 with two stolen bases, added RBI singles in the fourth.

Notes: