Last Sunday, Jarrod Washburn allowed three runs in five innings, but was on the losing end of a 5-0 shutout loss at the hands of Darrel Rasner and the Yankees. Tonight, Jarrod returned the favor, as he kept the mighty Yankees offense in check, limiting them to six hits in eight scoreless innings, as the M's returned the favor to Rasner and the Yankees by a score of 3-0.

To say Jarrod has stepped up big time for the Mariners this season would be an understatement. With the loss of Felix and the embarrassing debacle every fifth day that is Jeff Weaver on the mound, Washburn has done nothing but provide steady leadership along with a steady string of quality starts. Washburn hasn't given up more than eight hits or four runs in a game, and has twice tossed at least eight scoreless innings in a start. By dropping his ERA to 2.64 in tonight's ballgame, Jarrod now ranks seventh in the league (while Gil Meche's 2.15 ranks third). Tonight's win may have evened up Jarrod's record to 3-3, but if his run support (3.6) wasn't a full run lower than the Mariner's average of runs per game (4.7), then perhaps Jarrod could be challenging Beckett for the best pitcher on the young season.

And funny little trend the M's have going, with a bad start followed by a great start followed by a bad start followed by a great one. Obviously the only consistent thing about this team's pitching staff is its inconsistency.

Kenji Johjima was the offensive hero of the game, knocking a two-run home-run in the fourth inning that effectively sealed it. While nobody's paying attention, Johjima has been having a solid year up in the Pacific Northwest, and with Joe Mauer shelved currently, there's a chance we may see Kenji suit up for the American league squadron in the All Star Game. Adrian Beltre got one hit in the ballgame, an eighth inning double which may have knocked in the team's fourth run if pinch-runner Jason Ellison hadn't been caught stealing. Still, even by going 1-for-3, Beltre is hitting a pedestrian .246, which is actually 20 points higher than what he was hitting a year ago. With the hot hitting done by various members of the team, Beltre's (and Sexson's) early-season struggles at the plate have been overshadowed. The Mariners had all ready been shut-out five times a year ago. With Jarrod's brilliant performance tonight, the team now leads the league with four shutouts tossed.

Let's hope the bad start-brilliant start doesn't continue into tomorrow's game, otherwise Miguel Batista's streak of quality starts would come to an end. Batista has allowed just two runs in his past three starts, including last Monday's game against the Yankees, when an umpire's gift led to a no-decision for Batista in the eventual 3-2 win. Batista was matched up against Matt DeSalvo, who will also start for the Yankees tomorrow. DeSalvo did keep the M's to one run in seven innings in Monday's game, but he also struck out none and walked three, and I just don't trust numbers like that. Similar to their triumph over Rasner today, I think the M's will figure out DeSalvo tomorrow. I call it 5-3, M's.

Oh, and perhaps the best news of the day besides the M's beating the Yankees is that Jeff Weaver will be going on to the 15-day DL due to shoulder tendinitis. So that explains everything. Jeff didn't suck because he was untalented or had poor mechanics. It was because he was injured. I'm sure he will be improved and much better on his return. I can count on it. No I don't really mean that. I wonder if Jeff has been on the phone with Scott Speizio about how mean the M's fans are yet this season...