Mariners Extend a Pair of Streaks

SEATTLE — Jay Buhner and Edgar Martinez each drove in two runs Monday as the Seattle Mariners won their eighth consecutive home game with a 6-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

Seattle has won five consecutive games overall and 16 of 20 in June. The Mariners stayed 3 1/2 games ahead of second-place Anaheim in the AL West and stretched their lead over defending division champ Texas to six.

The last-place A’s lost their fifth in a row despite hitting four home runs. Oakland’s Jason Giambi extended his hitting streak to a club-record 25 games.

The Mariners, back home after sweeping a four-game series in Arlington, Texas, took a 5-0 lead off Dave Telgheder (2-4) in the first two innings.

Buhner singled in two runs in the first. In the second, Alvaro Espinoza had an RBI groundout followed by run-scoring singles by Ken Griffey Jr. and Martinez.

Rookie Derek Lowe (2-2) went five innings to get the win despite giving up home runs to Jason Giambi, Jose Canseco and rookie Mark Bellhorn.

Norm Charlton, who had blown his previous five save chances, came on with the tying run at first in the ninth and recorded his 11th save.

Seattle’s Russ Davis extended his career-best hitting streak to 12 games.

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Next Series for Angels

WHO: Seattle Mariners

WHERE: at Seattle

WHEN: Thursday: 7 p.m., Friday: 7 p.m., Saturday: 7 p.m., Sunday: 1:30 p.m.