Even as they look up from the bottom of the NL West, the San Diego Padres continue to show little glimpses of the team everyone expected to contend. Another one of those moments came Friday night, when the Padres opened interleague play with a solid 6-4 win over the Seattle Mariners, behind a 14-hit outburst from their offense, six quality innings from starter Chris Young and three shutout innings...

With Jarrod Washburn in the closer's role and Miguel Cairo filling in for a suspended slugger, the Seattle Mariners avoided a sweep. Cairo had a two-out RBI single in the 12th inning, then Washburn finished for his first career save as the Mariners beat Texas 4-3 on Wednesday for only their third victory in 15 games.

Ramon Vazquez hurt the Seattle Mariners for the second straight night -- this time with a flyball that stayed in the park. Vazquez drove in the go-ahead run with a sixth-inning sacrifice fly and the surging Texas Rangers beat Seattle 5-2 on Tuesday night. Vazquez went deep in the 10th inning Monday night to give the Rangers a 13-12 victory over the Mariners in the opener of the three-game series.

There were fireworks again when Texas and Seattle played -- for a different reason this time. Instead of flared tempers, they were the pyrotechnic displays sparked by Texas home runs, including a game-winning shot by Ramon Vazquez in the 10th inning as the Rangers rallied for a 13-12 victory Monday night.

Raul Ibanez's long home run was the spark the Seattle Mariners needed. Ibanez hit a two-run drive to right that traveled an estimated 443 feet and the Mariners beat the Chicago White Sox 6-3 Sunday to snap a five-game losing streak. "When you hit one that far it puts some life in a ballclub," Seattle closer J.J.

A little trip to Seattle is doing wonders for the Chicago White Sox. Brian Anderson and Carlos Quentin each homered and combined for five RBIs in the second inning, powering the White Sox to an 8-4 victory over the slumping Mariners on Saturday night. Javier Vazquez (4-3) allowed six hits and four runs in 5 2-3 innings as the White Sox moved into a first-place tie with Minnesota in the AL Central...

Richie Sexson's suspension for charging the mound in Seattle's 5-0 loss to Texas on Thursday was reduced from six games to five. The Mariners said Sexson would begin the suspension with Saturday night's game against the Chicago White Sox. He will miss the final two games of the series against the White Sox, and all three games Monday through Wednesday against the Rangers in Texas.

Attention American League: bring your slumping and your shaky to Seattle -- as soon as you can get here. Jose Contreras pitched seven sharp innings, Paul Konerko hit a two-run double and the Chicago White Sox beat the skidding Mariners 4-2 on Friday night. Contreras (3-3) gave up one run and six hits as the White Sox won for just the third time in 10 games.

Kason Gabbard threw an eye-high pitch at Richie Sexson. That was it for the Mariners 6-foot-8 first baseman. He charged the mound, sparking a fourth-inning brawl in Texas' 5-0 win over Seattle on Wednesday night. "I'm 6-foot-8. He can hit corners at will," Sexson said. "6-8 and all of a sudden he's up that high?

Vicente Padilla knew he had a challenge in his matchup against Seattle Mariners ace Erik Bedard. But the Texas Rangers' right-hander had a distinct advantage. He faced the Mariners' offense, which hasn't been much of a threat lately. Padilla allowed two hits over seven innings to outpitch Bedard and Milton Bradley homered as the Rangers beat the struggling Mariners 2-0 Wednesday night.

Telling Sidney Ponson this is his last chance in baseball may be the best move the Rangers will make this year. "That's just the way he thinks," the forgotten veteran right-hander said, bristling when reminded what manager Ron Washington told him when Texas signed him to a minor-league contract in March.

John McLaren was being his usual, sunny self. The Seattle Mariners' manager was encouraging Jarrod Washburn, saying he'd been pitching far better than his record indicated. "I'm 1-4, Mac. I'm 1-4!" the left-hander growled back at McLaren last week, without cracking a smile. A smile appeared Monday night -- for Washburn and his previously punchless offense.

After getting swept at home by Detroit last week, the New York Yankees dusted themselves off and answered immediately: Three easy wins over Seattle. Derek Jeter had four hits and New York got consecutive homers from best pals Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano during a six-run outburst, beating the slumping Mariners 8-2 Sunday to finish a lopsided three-game sweep.

Johnny Damon had a spring in his legs, Mike Mussina some zip on his arm. And after the New York Yankees shut down sloppy Seattle again, Mariners manager John McLaren let loose with an unmistakable rage in his voice. Damon homered and doubled twice to help Mussina win his third straight start in New York's 6-1 victory over the Mariners on Saturday.