This past weekend's series with the White Sox proved to be a test of the Mariners' character. If they are, indeed, one of the top echelon of teams in baseball, then they needed to stomp all overthe sub-.500 teams that they play. Winning any less than two games would've been a disappointment. Instead, the M's won all three games, playing commanding baseball all weekend. The M's jumped out to a 5-0 lead on Friday before holding on to win 5-4. on Saturday they came from behind to win for the 36th time this season, by a 7-5 score. ANd yesterday they jumped out to an early lead, knocking White Sox starter John Garland out of the game in the third inning as the M's won 11-5.

The victories keep the M's on top in the wild card standings by a half-game over the Yankees., and just two games behind the ANgels in the West. Now the Mariners reach the part of their schedule where they get to ultimately prove their season is not a fluke. 17 of their next 20 games are on the road, playing against such contenders as the Yankees, Tigers, and Indians. There only three games at home will be against the Angels. it's time to put up or shut up for the M's.

There were numerous hitting stars over the weekend for the M's. Beltre had a solid weekend, going 6-for-12 with a home-run to raise his average up to .274. Ichiro went 4-for-11, Raul Ibanez went 5-for-10 wit ha home run, and pesky Jose Guillen jump-started the M's offense all weekend, going 5-for-11 with a home-run and seven RBIs, including the sixth five-RBI game of his career on Sunday. Even Richie Sexson was able to pick up a hit in each of the three games, as he has a modest four-game hitting streak in progress.

The M's kick-off their road trip tonight in Minnesota facing the Twins' right-hander Matt Garza, who hled the M's to seven innings of three-run ball facing them in a start last week. The Marienrs are matching with Horacio Ramirez. Ugh. I'm not looking forward to this one at all....