Rodriguez, who left Seattle in the offseason to sign a record 10-year, $252 million contract with Texas, went 6-for-10 during a weekend sweep of the Athletics in Oakland, hitting his first four home runs of the season and knocking in 13 runs.

The Mariners and Rangers open a three-game series at Safeco Field on Monday night.

The Mariners (9-3) haven't missed Rodriguez's production on the field as they're off to their best start in history. They took two of three from the Rangers (7-6) last week at The Ballpark in Arlington and swept a three-game series from Oakland. Then over the weekend, the AL West leaders took two of three from the Angels in Anaheim.

Bret Boone delivered a two-run single to highlight a big eighth inning as the red-hot Mariners rallied for a 7-5 victory on Sunday. They trailed 3-1 before erupting for six runs.

Boone and John Olerud each had three hits for the Mariners, who completed a 7-2 road trip.

"We're better than people think we are," Boone said. "But just because we're off to a great start I'm not going to say we're going to go 7-2 on every road trip. But our team is built around pitching. We've got a great defense and our offense is a lot better than people give us credit for. We're not the Texas Rangers but we're going to put up some runs."

Jose Paniagua (1-1) picked up the win despite allowing two runs and one hit in 1 2/3 innings. Jeff Nelson worked a perfect ninth for his first save.

"The Mariners had a good team last year and Oakland and Texas were still picked ahead of them," said Nelson, who was a member of the New York Yankees' team that beat Seattle in the American League Championship Series.

"I don't think Seattle was even picked to win the wild card. They went to ACLS and were maybe a couple of outs away from going to the World Series. Then you lose a big hitter like Alex but we still have great pitching and great defense. That's what is going to win it."

Pitching matchups for the Texas series: Ryan Glynn (0-2, 10.24) and the M's Aaron Sele (2-0, 1.29) on Monday; Rick Helling (0-2,12.46) vs. the M's Jamie Moyer (1-0, 4.35) on Tuesday and Doug Davis (1-1, 3.97) vs. Brett Tomko (0-0, 3.75) on Wednesday.

WHO'S HOT: The top five of the Mariners' batting order continue to swing the bat well. Ichiro Suzuki (.321), Mike Cameron (.301), Edgar Martinez (.390 after going 2-for-4 with a HR on Sunday), John Olerud (.341) and Brett Boone (.372 after going 3-for-5 Sunday).

WHO'S NOT: Al Martin was hitting .045 (1-for-23) going into the Texas series.

PINCH-HIT WONDERS: Stan Javier's pinch-hit single on Sunday left the Mariners' 6-for-9 (.666) in that department with one home run and five RBI. Mark McLemore is 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBI. Last season, Seattle pinch-hitters were 19-for-94 (.202) with no homers and 12 RBI.

FREDDY WAS TOUGH: Freddy Garcia held the Angels hitless through five innings and ended up allowing just two hits in 7 2/3 innings on Saturday night. Garcia picked up his first win.

Relievers Jeff Nelson, Arhtur Rhodes and Kazahiro Sasaki combined to get the final four outs. Sasaki had surrendered the game-winning home run to Garrett Anderson the night before -- costing starter Brett Tomko a win -- but he came back to get his sixth save.

TIME PIECE: When he was in Texas last weekend, RHP Jose Paniagua got a new Rolex from former teammate Alex Rodriguez. The Texas shortstop promised the Rolex to Paniagua if he got his ERA under 3.50 last year, and Paniagua came in at 3.47.

SLOW TO HEAL: RHP Paul Abbott's battle back from the shoulder stiffness that forced him onto the disabled list wasn't progressing as quickly as the Mariners had hoped. But he could be back in the rotation in 10-12 days.

Next up would be an injury rehabilitation assignment start for him with Class-A San Bernardino in a California League game on Saturday. One more start for Abbott with Triple-A Tacoma during the next Seattle homestand would have Abbott ready to rejoin the rotation at the beginning of the next road trip in New York.

POOL TIME: OF Jay Buhner has been making progress and was scheduled to have the boot come off his left foot Friday. Buhner began the season on the disabled list with inflammation of the plantar facsia, but the swelling has gone down. Buhner was working in the weight room and strengthening the leg with daily sessions in the swimming pool.

BIDING HIS TIME: 2B Mark McLemore made it clear during the spring that if he wasn't playing every day, he wasn't going to be happy. He isn't. So he's not.

He's not letting that sour him on the experience of playing with the Mariners, however. He's tied for the team lead with two homers and entered the weekend hitting .286.

"I'm not worried about my playing time,'' McLemore said. "It's no secret that I'd rather be playing. So does everyone else in here. That's what you want. We've got 25 guys who want to play every day. That's one of the things that makes this club special.''

LONG BALL BLUES: LHP Norm Charlton twice gave up homers in a three-game series against Texas, one to Rafael Palmeiro and later to Andres Galarraga. Despite that, pitching coach Bryan Price gave Charlton a vote of confidence.

FRANKLY SPEAKING: RHP Ryan Franklin made a nice impression in the first week of the season. Franklin, a career minor leaguer who now serves as the long man in the bullpen, went 6 2/3 innings while allowing three hits, three walks and no runs. When RHP Paul Abbott comes back, the Mariners are thinking about keeping Franklin as a 12th man on the staff.

STAT CORNER: Seattle's bullpen didn't give up a run in the first 15 1/3 innings the Mariners asked them to pitch in the first week of the season.

FAST FACT: 2B Bret Boone became the third member of his family to reach 1000 hits in his career last weekend. His grandfather, Ray, did it. So did his father, Bob.

QUOTEWORTHY: "It's a nice number. It's nothing you set out to do when you start your career, but it means you've done pretty well for a long time. If you get to 1,500, that's a nice accomplishment. If you get to 2,000, you've had a great career. And everybody knows what 3,000 hits means. I'm not even thinking about 3,000. No way.'' -- 2B Bret Boone on reaching 1,000 career hits.