Yes, I know two victories in two games at Tampa Bay isn't saying much. But what's of interest is how these games were won.

In both games, the Devil Rays jumped out to early leads in the first inning: two runs in the first off Jarrod Washburn in yesterday's 5-2 victory, and a one-strike lead-off home-run by B. J. Upton off Miguel Batista in today's 5-1 win, which brought the Mariners back to .500 with a 21-21 record. The Mariners had the bases loaded and two outs when they scored the runs that got them back into both games: Richie Sexson- who's struggles at the plate have been mighty a quarter through the season- pushed a single through the left side of the infield with the bases loaded in yesterday's win, and Yuniesky Betancourt lined a double into left field in today's game. Both games saw excellent performances from the starting pitchers: Washburn pitched into the seventh inning allowing just one earned run, while Batista allowed just one run through six innings. And the bullpen has combined to throw 5.2 innings of hitless relief over two games, striking out seven.

In short, methodical. To the point where it was almost predictable. Boring, even. But if victories like these become the M's routine for the rest of the summer, any complaints by me will be kept at a minimum. Of course, I will point out that Adrian Beltre played absolutely no role in either games, being held hitless in eight at-bats with four strike-outs as his average tumbles to .236, committing the error that allowed the unearned run to score yesterday. Luckily, Jose Guillen was able to compensate for an 0-for-5 day by picking up four singles and knocking in two runs.

Well, all good things come to an end, and tomorrow Horacio Ramirez takes the mound for the Mariners as they attempt to go for the sweep. Ramirez may have won his past two starts, allowing four runs in twelve innings. But considering his 2.19-to-13.17 home-road split- and the fact that the Mariners haven't been able to sweep the Devil Rays since 2000- tomorrow may be the perfect time for Ramirez's alter ego, Horror-Arm to make an appearance. This will be Ramirez's first start against Tampa bay since his rookie year for the Braves in 2003, when he held the D-Rays to two runs over 6.2 innings, striking out eight. As Ramirez is pitching against a line-up that is mostly unfamiliar with him, expect him to deliver a repeat performance meaning that the M's pitching will deliver- shockers!- three solid starts in a row. (And Baek's start on Monday wasn't all that bad until he tired out in the seventh.)

On the mound for Tampa Bay tomorrow is right-hander who has struggled immensely so far this year, and luckily shares a league with Jeff Weaver, therefore providing some perspective for the awful numbers he has put up. And indeed the numbers have been awful: a 2-4 record with a 7.80 ERA, with 66 hits and 10 home-runs allowed so far this season in just 45 innings. On his baseball-reference page, Seo's ERA+ rating so far this year is 56, basically meaning that not only is he not even league-average, but he's about as half as a good as a league-average pitcher. But it should not be surprising, then, to learn that Seo has been dominating in his career against the Mariners, limiting them to a 1.13 ERA over 16 career innings, allowing just one unearned run over seven innings in his last outing against Seattle in a 5-1 loss last August. Adrian Beltre is 6-for-9 with a home-run against Seo in his career, meaning tomorrow may be a good day for Beltre to bust out, while Richie Sexson is 4-for-8 with a 1.600 OPS against Seo. Despite Guillen and Vidro combining to go 6-for-31 against Seo, expect to see some offensive explosions tomorrow.

Final score: 7-3, Mariners.