Dynamic Duo Stop M's Bleeding

Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. hit back-to-back homers to salvage a victory and end Seattle's three-game losing streak.

It was the seventh time the pair hit consecutive home runs to lead the Mariners to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins.

Rodriguez hit his 22nd homer in the first off Brad Radke (7-9) and Griffey followed with his American League-leading 32nd of the year and the Mariners took the final game of the three-game series against the Twins.

The 29-year-old Griffey has 382 career homers, tying Jim Rice and Frank Howard for 36th place.

"They're all significant," Griffey said. "I enjoy every one of them."

Rodriguez, who was 1-for-18 against Radke coming in, also had a RBI single in the fifth.

"He's going to give you some pitches to hit because he's aggressive," said Rodriguez, who expressed surprise at his lack of success against the Twins pitcher. "One for 18? Really? I didn't know. I see the ball fine against him. Now I'm three for 22."

Jamie Moyer (9-5) pitched six strong innings for Seattle, allowing five hits and one run for his first win since June 16.

"He gave us what we were looking for," said Seattle manager Lou Piniella. "Six good innings of baseball."

"That's my job, whether we need it or not," said Moyer, who walked one and struck out two. "I hoped to get a little deeper into the game, but we won. We were fortunate to get that four-run cushion early against a pretty darn good pitcher."

Moyer was replaced by Paul Abbott, who gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh as the Twins pulled to within 4-3.

Todd Walker tripled home a run for Minnesota in the inning and then scored on a groundout by pinch-hitter Matt Lawton.

Jose Mesa pitched a scoreless ninth for his 19th save in 22 opportunities.

"It was a pretty good ballgame," said Twins manager Tom Kell. "Radke left one up to Rodriguez, but I thought Griffey hit a pretty good pitch. He (Radke) battled through the game and gave us a good chance to win."

Piniella was ejected in the fifth inning for arguing an appeal call by third base umpire Durwood Merril. The Twins said that Raul Ibanez left third base early and Merril agreed, turning an apparent sacrifice fly by Griffey into an inning-ending double play.

"I didn't think it was a very good call and I had a pretty good view of it," said Piniella. "I knew going out there that I was right and I knew I was going to get kicked out. I don't blame him for kicking me out."

Rodriguez, who was on first base at the time, said the call was not only rare, but potentially very important.

"I can't remember the last time I've seen that call," he said. "We've got Radke on the ropes and instead he's out of the inning. It was a huge turnaround."

First baseman David Segui was tossed an inning later for arguing with home plate umpire Mike Everitt from the Mariners bench.

The Mariners later said that Segui was up in the tunnel at the time and that Everitt reacted to the voice of another player when he ejected Segui.

Griffey has homered in five of six games this year at the Metrodome, where he has 22 homers, most in any ballpark other than the Kingdome.

Tom Lampkin had an RBI single for the Mariners in the fourth.

Minnesota's first run came in the sixth on a run-scoring single by Marty Cordova.

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