Griffey Is in Hot Pursuit

MINNEAPOLIS —  Ken Griffey Jr. broke his own major league record for home runs hit through May by connecting for his 23rd of the season Tuesday night.

In the third inning, Griffey drove a 1-0 pitch from Minnesota’s Kevin Jarvis seven rows into the right-field upper deck -- measured at 442 feet -- for a two-run homer to give the Seattle Mariners a 3-0 lead over the Twins.

Griffey’s homer broke the mark he set in 1994, when he had 22 homers through May and finished with 40 before the players went on strike. Tuesday’s homer also extended Griffey’s RBI total to 61, the most in the majors.

By comparison, Roger Maris didn’t hit his 23rd homer until June 17 when he set the major league mark with 61 homers in 1961. On his current pace, Griffey would finish the season with 76 homers.