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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sexson powers M’s

Seattle catcher Kenji Johjima tags out Angels' Casey Kotchman after taking a throw from Ichiro Suzuki in the second inning.Associated Press
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Gregg Bell Associated Press

SEATTLE – Richie Sexson had postgame ice on his shoulder. Ice on his knee. And, finally, fans off his back.

The struggling slugger, vilified for two seasons in Seattle, hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer, Carlos Silva worked eight effective innings and the Mariners again beat their A.L. West nemesis Los Angeles Angels 8-3 Saturday night.

“It’s nice to do something well at home,” said Sexson, a native of southwest Washington who is trying to rebound in a contract year from career lows in 2007.

His homer off Jon Garland in the fifth came after he popped out with the bases loaded, drawing more boos from the crowd.

“They want me to do good. I’ve never had a beef with the fans. I didn’t think it was odd that they were cheering me,” he said

Two weeks into their promising season, the Mariners have already done something they did only once last year: win a series against the Angels.

Raul Ibanez hit his third home run in two games for Seattle, which in 2007 lost 13 of 19 games to Los Angeles and finished six games behind the Angels in the West.

“It’s only two games, but right now we feel good, because last year they kicked us all the way through the season,” Jose Vidro said after his two singles and two RBIs.

The Angels, winners of three of the last four A.L. West titles, aren’t paying much attention to the upstart Mariners yet. They’re too focused on going 4 for 28 with runners in scoring position in the series, dealing with a ragged bullpen and being without their top two starters, John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar.

Silva (2-0) gave up 11 hits, his most since Aug. 27, 2006, when he was with Minnesota. But thanks largely to three double-play grounders by Gary Matthews Jr. Matthews’ double plays were a career high in a game for him.

“We’re not firing on all cylinders,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “I don’t think anyone is feeling totally into the game at the plate.”

Sexson finally is.

After beginning his off-season by hitting earlier than he usually does, Sexson says he’s feeling as great as he has this early in a season. His .205 average last year was the lowest among those with at least 312 at-bats, and his 21 homers and 63 RBIs were career lows for a season without a major injury.

Now he has nine RBIs in 12 games.

The Angels took a 3-2 lead in the fifth on a run-scoring double-play grounder by Matthews. Then they felt the sting of center fielder Torii Hunter’s bruised toe.

Hunter’s injury forced him to be the designated hitter and put Friday’s DH, Garret Anderson, in left field. Anderson ran down Adrian Beltre’s catchable flyball in the fifth but had it slap off the end of his glove.

Instead of the third out, Beltre had a double. Vidro singled him home to tie the game.

Sexson then sent Garland’s 2-1 pitch over the wall in right-center field for his second home run to put the Mariners up 5-3.