*Mariners place OF Jay Buhner on DL with hamstring problem*
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SEATTLE (Ticker) -- With the Seattle Mariners having no trouble
hitting the long ball, this might not be a bad time for Jay
Buhner to be forced to the sidelines. 

The Mariners placed Buhner, one of their best power hitters, on
the 15-day disabled list today with a strained left hamstring.
He aggravated the injury in Tuesday's 10-1 rout of the Minnesota
Twins after missing eight games earlier this month with
tightness in the hamstring. 

Without Buhner tonight, Seattle hit three more home runs -- two
by Alex Rodriguez and one by Ken Griffey Jr. -- in a 7-0 victory
over the Twins. 

The Mariners, who have won a season-high four straight games,
have collected 55 home runs over their last 20 contests.  They
lead the majors with 83 homers. 

Buhner has gone deep six times in 26 games this season while
batting .268 with 18 RBI.  His 21 walks match Griffey for the
second-most on the team behind Edgar Martinez. 
 
One of just 15 players to hit 40 or more homers in three
consecutive seasons, Buhner has cleared the fences 271 times in
his 13-year career.  He made the All-Star team in 1996 when he
set career highs with 44 homers and 138 RBI. 

Seattle is 19-21 this season and sits three games back of Texas
for first place in the American League West. 

To fill Buhner's roster spot the Mariners recalled outfielder
Charles Gipson from Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League.  Gipson
appeared in tonight's game as a defensive replacement.