SEATTLE -- Nothing went right for Freddy Garcia, and nothing seems to stand in the way these days of the surging Oakland Athletics.

The Seattle Mariners' top starter gave up a career-worst 10 runs in three innings, and the Athletics won 13-2 Monday night in the opener of a series showdown between the AL West rivals.

''I didn't have location on my pitches,'' Garcia said. ''I couldn't locate my fastball, my changeup, my curve. Every pitch. I have no excuses. I got hit. It happens.''

Garcia (10-5) had won six straight starts since May 19 but struggled mightily against the A's. Last year's AL ERA champ allowed nine hits and five walks in three innings, raising his ERA from 3.02 to 3.73.

The A's have won eight in a row and 16 of their last 17. They are 19-3 in June and are in second place in the division, within two games of the Mariners. With three games left in the series at Safeco Field, Oakland could leave Seattle with the lead.

''We beat their ace,'' A's manager Art Howe said. ''So you have to feel good about that.''

After going up 10-1 against Garcia, Oakland got home runs from Eric Chavez and Greg Myers against Ryan Franklin in the fourth inning.

Miguel Tejada hit a three-run double and John Mabry had a two-run double as the A's scored seven runs in the third inning. This was the most runs given up by the Mariners in a game this season.

Piniella said Garcia was due for a bad game.

''I don't think anybody is immune from it,'' he said. ''If our bullpen had been in better shape, we'd have gotten him out of there sooner, but we didn't have that luxury.''

The big third inning staked Cory Lidle (2-6) to a 10-0 lead. Lidle allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings to win for the first time since April 26.

A's left fielder David Justice got his 1,500th career hit when he singled in the first.

Twins 5, White Sox 4

Jacque Jones drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth after Torii Hunter tied it with a two-run homer an inning earlier, giving host Minnesota a victory in the first meeting of the year between the teams.

Jones got his two-out double off Bobby Howry (0-1) after Luis Rivas walked. Jones was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple to end the inning.

Rangers 8, Angels 5, 1st game

Rangers 3, Angels 2, 2nd game

At Arlington, Texas, Dave Burba allowed one run in 6 2-3 innings and Alex Rodriguez hit his 22nd homer as the Rangers completed a doubleheader sweep and won their season-high seventh straight game.

Burba (4-4) had lost his previous four decisions and hadn't won since May 11 amid speculation he was in danger of being dropped from the rotation.

In the opener, rookie Joaquin Benoit pitched five innings to lead Texas to an 8-5 win before being sent back to the minors for the third time this season.

Benoit (2-0), called up before the game, trailed 3-0 after two innings in his second big league start before settling down. He allowed two earned runs and five hits over five innings. The Associated Press