Probably worth the eight seconds it will take you this morning to watch this highlight of Russell Branyan's violent homer last night in the M's win over Chicago. The "Las Vegas" sign below the Hit It Here Cafe is still shaking, we're sure. We would give an arm to be able to hit a baseball like this just once. more ›

Now this is just getting ridiculous. The M's get blown out for the fourth consecutive game, this time with King Felix on the mound. Hernandez had his worst outing of the year, allowing 7 runs and 11 hits in 5.2 IP. A makeshift lineup -- with Branyan and Lopez both out with bad backs -- didn't record an extra base hit. Ichiro had 3 hits, raising his average to .363. M's 51-48, 7.5 GB. Box score. Next game Tues vs. TOR, 7:10 p.m.; Washburn vs. Rzepczynski. more ›

The M's had two hits, but they only really needed one -- Russell Branyan's majestic two-out, two-run homer in the eighth. The homer was Branyan's 24th, tying him atop the AL leaderboard. The homer gave Felix Hernandez his 11th win. King Felix was dominating, striking out eight including two punchouts of MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera with runners on. M's 50-44, 5.5 GB. Box score. Next game Thu. @ DET, 10:05 a.m.; Washburn vs. French. more ›

Jarrod Washburn pitched the best game of his life, recording the 10th one-hitter in Mariner history. Adding to the fun -- his folks were in town for the game! Washburn retired 27 of the 28 batters he faced; only a fourth-inning line-drive single by Nick Markakis kept the game from being perfect. Russell Branyan's first-inning solo homer turned out to be all the offense Wash needed. M's 43-39, 3.5 GB. Box score. Next game Tues. vs. BAL, 7:10 p.m.; Bedard vs. Guthrie. more ›

M's Serve Baseball's Best Team; Lose Beltre: The Mariners started their road trip with a surprising 2-1 series win over the Dodgers, who have baseball's best record. The highlight was Felix Hernandez's nine-K performance on Saturday night, with homers by Griffey and Branyan providing the offense. Bad news came that night as well: Adrian Beltre will miss 6-8 weeks, he's getting surgery to remove painful bone spurs in his shoulder. more ›

Franklin Gutierrez' solo homer in the eight breaks a 3-3 tie, as the M's are victorious for the first time in a Brandon Morrow start. The bullpen pitched four scoreless; Aardsma saves it, starting the ninth by striking out Adrian Gonzalez swinging on a mid-90s fastball. Russell Branyan's 18th homer provided the other three runs. Bad news: B'court left the game with an apparent muscle strain. M's 36-35, 2.5 GB. Box score. Next game Thu vs. SD, 1:40 p.m., Washburn vs. LeBlanc. more ›

Our M's have climbed back to the .500 mark. Thanks--both for the season and for the game, go to the two-man wrecking crew of Ichiro and Branyan. Ich had two more hits to raise his average to .360, and Branyan had three ribbies including a 450-foot solo homer, the sixth-longest in Camden Yards history. Another nice job by the 'pen, as Aardsma gets his 11th save. M's 30-30, 4.5 GB. Box score. Next game Friday @ COL, 6:10 p.m.; Washburn vs. Jimenez. more ›

Blah, blah, M's win, but what we really care about is...Griffey homered! A one-handed line drive that barely cleared the right-field wall, in a game that was pretty much over, but we will take it! The four-bagger was one of three extra-base hits for Junior, his most in a game since June '06. Erik Bedard pitched into the seventh, then turned the game over to Sean White, who escaped an icky jam. R. Branyan, in his first game as the #2 hitter, was 2-4 with 2 R and 2 RBI. And, last but not least, Ichiro extended his hitting streak to 26 with an infield hit in the first, breaking his own franchise record. Box score. Next game Wednesday vs. BAL, 7:10 p.m.; Vargas vs. Brad Bergesen. more ›