The Seattle Mariners' record this season is hardly impressive, but it still has them in the thick of the AL West race.

None of the teams in the division have jumped out to a quick start and Texas leads the West with a 19-17 record. Seattle (17-22) is currently third just 3 1/2 games back.

The Mariners won this weekend's series with the Angels, a divisional rival, by taking the final two tests in the three-game set in Anaheim.

Seattle won a close game Saturday, winning by a 5-4 count before posting a 9-4 victory in Sunday's finale. Jose Lopez went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in and three runs scored to lead the way on Sunday.

Raul Ibanez and Yuniesky Betancourt each knocked in a pair of runs for the Mariners, who have won two straight following back-to-back losses.

Gil Meche (3-2) conceded four runs on six hits with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings to earn the win.

"It was a battle out there," said Meche. "I felt tired but I was able to pound the strike zone and make it through six innings."

Meche's remarks about his most recent performance can be applied to Seattle's season as a whole. The Mariners aren't the most talented team in the division this year and have had to scuffle to for every win.

It's uncertain how Seattle's season will play out the rest of the way. The team clearly lacks the talent to be dominant, but skipper Mike Hargrove has the M's playing hard and that can lead to big things.

BIG SEXY GETS BIG HIT

Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson has struggled mightily this season, so Seattle fans must have been glad to see him do something positive for the club this weekend.

Sexson's home run in the top of the 13th inning lifted the Mariners to a 5-4 win Saturday in Anaheim. The 6-foot-8 slugger has five seasons of 29 or more home runs, but has just four long balls and a .196 batting average this year.

"Richie has been swinging the bat well," Mike Hargrove said. "When he hit that it was awfully nice to see."

WHO'S HOT

Outfielder Ichiro Suzuki is in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak. The 2001 AL MVP is hitting .395 (15-for-38) with seven runs scored during that stretch.

Second baseman Jose Lopez hit .375 (6-for-16) with a home run, four runs scored and two RBI in this weekend's series with the Angels.

WHO'S NOT

Third baseman Adrian Beltre is just 2-for-16 (.125) over his last four games. He does have a home run and two RBI in that span.

Outfielder Raul Ibanez has just four hits in his last 17 at-bats (.148).

COMING UP

The Mariners begin a three-game series in Oakland on Tuesday before returning home for this weekend's interleague series against the San Diego Padres.