CHICAGO - Ken Griffey Jr. hit one of Chicago's four homers to move into a tie with Sammy Sosa for fifth on the career list and the surging White Sox routed the Seattle Mariners 15-3 on Wednesday.

Griffey's two-run drive in the second inning was his first since Chicago acquired him from Cincinnati on July 31, and No. 609 for his career. The 13-time All-Star was just 9-for-43 with four RBIs and no extra-base hits for the White Sox entering the game.

Alexei Ramirez and A.J. Pierzynski each hit a three-run homer for AL Central-leading Chicago, which has won eight of nine and maintained a one-game lead over Minnesota. Nick Swisher homered for the third straight game and Griffey scored three times.

Griffey hit an RBI single and Ramirez connected for his 14th homer in Chicago's six-run first against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (3-8), who lasted just two innings.

Gavin Floyd (13-6) was the beneficiary of all that run support. The right-hander allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.

Raul Ibanez hit his 20th homer and drove in three runs for Seattle. Ichiro Suzuki had three hits.

MINNEAPOLIS - Mike Redmond drove in two runs for Minnesota, which survived some wildness by Francisco Liriano and handed Oakland its 11th straight series defeat.

The last time the A's lost 11 series in a row was 1960, when they played in Kansas City.

The Twins won their 11th consecutive home series, improving to 30-9 at the Metrodome since June 1 in their last home game until Sept. 5.

Liriano (4-3) allowed an unearned run and five hits in five innings against the lifeless A's, who are 6-25 since the All-Star break. He struck out five and walked three.

Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 34th save, and the Twins walked off winners for the sixth time in seven games.

Dallas Braden (3-3) gave up three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings for Oakland. He struck out seven and walked three.