Big Socks Fit New Mariners -- Sorrento Homers Twice, Davis Once Against Brewers

Tino who?

Mike who?

To be fair, Paul Sorrento's two home runs, including a first-inning grand slam, and Russ Davis' solo homer probably didn't erase all the fond memories Seattle fans have of Tino Martinez and Mike Blowers.

But their blasts in Seattle's 8-5 victory over Milwaukee last night certainly helped the newcomers find their own niches in the hearts of the Mariner faithful still lamenting the loss of first baseman Martinez to the New York Yankees, and third baseman Blowers to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

First baseman Sorrento picked on an 0-2 knuckleball from Milwaukee starter Steve Sparks and hit a rocket into the right-field seats to spot the M's to a 4-0 lead. Third baseman Davis hammered Sparks' next pitch over the center-field fence for a 5-0 advantage.

In the sixth, Sorrento made it 7-2 with a two-run homer over the center-field wall.

That was more than enough offense for starter Randy Johnson and relief pitchers Mike Jackson and Norm Charlton before a sellout crowd of 56,892. It was the 10th largest crowd to see a baseball game in the Kingdome, and fourth largest for a regular-season game.

Johnson held the Brewers to four hits over 6 2/3 innings (124 pitches) en route to his first victory of the week-old season - and 100th of his career. He wasn't as overpowering as he was Opening Night, when he struck out 14 Chicago White Sox. But he was tough enough in leaving eight Brewers stranded.

Johnson struck out six and walked six. His shutout bid ended in the fifth when Greg Vaughn hit his first of two home runs, a two-run rip over the left-field fence. Walks to Pat Listach and Vaughn in the seventh preceded his exit. Jackson came on with two out and gave up a two-run double to John Jaha before ending the brief uprising by getting pinch hitter Turner Ward to fly out.

Scoring ahead of Sorrento in the first were Darren Bragg, who had led off with a single to left field, Ken Griffey Jr., who had walked, and Edgar Martinez, who had singled to center.

After Jay Buhner popped out for the second out, Sorrento fell behind 0-2 before hitting a Sparks knuckleball off the second deck in right field. Davis followed with his first-pitch rip over the center-field fence.

"I don't know what it was, I just felt comfortable the whole night," Sorrento said. "I've had pretty good success against him (Sparks). It's hard to explain."

Sorrento said he's not responding to any kind of pressure as Martinez's replacement.

"As far as replacing anybody, I know if I just go out and do my job everything will be fine," Sorrento said.

Davis credited his hitting effort to daily workouts with Lee Elia, Mariner hitting coach.

"It's something I'm going to have to do every day," Davis said. "I'm trying not to put pressure on myself.

"This is my first year around the league (playing every day)," Davis said. "It's going to take a little time."

The Brewers got two back in the fifth on Vaughn's two-out homer. After Kevin Seitzer singled to center, Vaughn hit Johnson's next pitch over the left-field fence.

Sorrento's homer in the sixth followed a walk to Buhner. Sorrento has hit two home runs in a game nine times. His six runs batted in also equaled his career high.

Griffey completed the Mariners' scoring in the seventh by hitting a home run into the right-field seats. It was his second homer in two games, another indication that he is emerging from his hitting slump. By going 1 for 3 , he raised his average to .158.

Vaughn got his second homer in the ninth, a two-out shot over the left-center-field wall.

Johnson said that considering the circumstances - his wife gave birth to their second child early Friday, and he has been battling the flu for four days - he thought his performance was satisfactory.

"I struggled a little bit, but I haven't thrown in five days. I was a little weak, and that was evident. But I kept a good team down."

Johnson was able to continue after getting hit in the second inning by a line drive from Mike Matheny. He said the line drive struck him inside his left thigh.