Consider today's 14-5 trouncing of the Rangers payback.

A payback for only scoring 13 runs during the Mariners' six-game losing streak. Payback for Gil Meche giving up six runs in the third inning the night before, as the Mariners answered with their own six-run third in Wedensday's game. Payback for folding like a wet newspaper versus Rangers left-hander John Koronka last April 18, as he held the Mariners to one run in five innings in a 7-4 victory for the Rangers at Safeco. Payback for Felix pitching like a demon in his last start, yet losing 3-1 to the Twins. Payabck for giving up agrand slam to Brad Wilkerson in Tuesday's game.... wait, Felix gave up a grand slam to Gary Matthews, Jr. Never mind.

But still, the M's got a win and getting that monkey, nee gorilla off their back, is HUGE. Just when I was wondering what day in June the Mariners were going to get their next win (could it be possible to be swept by the Royals?) my thoughts were distracted by ground-ball after ground-ball finding their way through the infield, only to be interuppted by Raul Ibanez depositing a flyball over the outfield fence, which was his own way of getting payback for getting tossed out on a lousy strike three call the night before.

So, kudos, Mariners for scoring a season high in runs. Is this why you got shut-out twice in five days, though? Using up your allotted runs in one ball-game? Perhaps this game, plus a day of rest after playing 16 straight, will have an opposite carry-over effect as last week's Rodrigo Lopez shut-out did in the final game of the homestand, and the M's bats will return to the Safe juiced and ready to pound the Royals' pitching.

Adrian Beltre even got in on the action today, going 3 for 6 with a run and 2 RBIs. Beltre has been en fuego lately, hitting in 11 out of his last 13 games for a .289 average. Though it'd be nice to see him add to his power numbers, he has once again brought his batting average to a season high of .230, a point previously reached on May 9th (before falling into a 3-for-30 stretch that brought it tumbling to .205). Although May lacked fireworks, Beltre's line of .264-.302-.355 far surpassed the Sexsonish .189-.284-.233 numbers that were put up in April. Beltre has also responded to being moved to the number 2 spot quite nicely (perhaps Hargrove inserted Beltre in behind Ichiro, moving Lopez down to third, to resist the urge to have Lopez continually bunt). Still, even by going 4-for-10 in the two-spot and picking up his third 2-RBI game of the season, Beltre is a career .185 hitter batting second, so hopefully Hargrove wises up (before he gets fired, natch) and moves Beltre back to where he should be batting.

You know, eighth.