Oliver Twisted Up by Mariners’ Kelly

ARLINGTON, Texas —  For Texas left-hander Darren Oliver, having to face Ken Griffey Jr. is no big deal. Facing Roberto Kelly, however, is another story.

Kelly hit a pair of two-run homers while Griffey was held hitless Thursday night as Randy Johnson and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Rangers, 6-3.

Seattle increased its AL West lead to six games, tying a season high, over the Angels. The victory was Seattle’s 85th, tying the team record set last year.

“Don’t expect me to drive in four runs every night,” Kelly said.

Maybe Kelly would if he faced Oliver more often. With two homers and a walk off him, Kelly is six for nine against him lifetime.

“To be honest, I didn’t know I hit him that good,” said Kelly, whose second two-homer game came on the sixth anniversary of his first one.

Johnson gave up 10 hits and three runs, two earned, in seven innings. He struck out five and walked two in his second start since a 24-day layoff caused by tendinitis in his pitching hand.

“I’m proud of the way we went after him,” said Texas Manager Johnny Oates, ejected after the third inning. “We probably had more baserunners tonight than we had combined in our other three games against him.”