Bronx, NY – Raul Ibanez belted a pair of homers, including a grand slam that highlighted a seven-run first inning, as the Seattle Mariners pounded the New York Yankees, 12-2, Wednesday night.
Ibanez, who had six RBI, continued his amazing recent success in the Bronx, and Kyle Seager smacked a three-run homer to help the Mariners bounce back from a 4-3 loss in the opener of this three-game series.
Hisashi Iwakuma (5-1) gave up a pair of solo homers among his eight hits over seven strong innings to win his third straight start.
"He just made a couple of mistakes, but he was efficient and threw the ball well," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said.
It's been a resurgence for the 40-year-old Ibanez over these last two games. He belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning of Tuesday's game, when the Mariners blew a 3-0 lead.
This is the second two-homer, six RBI game for Ibanez. His other came July 14, 2002 while with Kansas City against the Angels. Over his last 11 games at Yankee Stadium (including playoffs), Ibanez has nine homers and 20 RBI, all while compiling a .500 (18-for-36) average.
"He's had a lot success in this ballpark," Wedge said. "He's the consummate pro and doesn't worry about anything. Because of the way his works and his knowledge base, you don't want to bet against the guy."
Vernon Wells and Chris Stewart homered for the Yankees, who lost for just the second time in their last nine games.
Phil Hughes (2-3) didn't make it out of the first inning. The right-hander, who gave up six hits and seven runs while recording just two outs, had a five- start unbeaten string snapped.
Right-hander Brett Marshall threw 108 pitches over 5 2/3 innings in his major league debut, but surrendered homers to Ibanez and Seager. Marshall allowed nine hits and five runs, while also walking five.
Hughes retired Michael Saunders on a fly ball to start the game. Hughes then walked Dustin Ackley and Seager singled to put runners at the corners. Kendrys Morales lined a single to left field, and Michael Morse's ground ball base hit to right field plated Seager for a 2-0 lead.
After walking Justin Smoak to load the bases, Hughes delivered a pitch that was tattooed by Ibanez over the wall in right-center field.
Ibanez, who spent the 2012 season with the Yankees, homered for a second straight game and for the third time in his last four contests. It was his 11th career grand slam.
Saunders' double plated Brendan Ryan later in the frame for the 7-0 margin. Hughes was then removed after throwing 36 pitches and was replaced by Preston Claiborne.
Wells homered to left field in the bottom of the first, but Ibanez went deep to left with Morse aboard in the fifth to widen the gap to 9-1. It was the first runs allowed by the New York bullpen in the last 10 games.
Stewart homered to left leading off the bottom of the fifth, but Seager smashed a pitch from Marshall over the wall in right-center in the sixth for a 12-2 cushion.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi removed Marshall with two outs and runners at the corners in the ninth inning. Shortstop Alberto Gonzalez then came in to retire Robert Andino on a fly ball for the last out of the frame.
"He saved the bullpen," Girardi said of Marshall. "That's what he did for us. It's not easy being a rookie. He did a good job for us and I'm sure he would have liked to pitch a lot better."
Game Notes
The seven first inning runs were the most allowed by the Yankees at home since May 20, 2008 against Baltimore ... Prior to the game, the Yankees selected the contract of infielder David Adams from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and also designated third baseman Chris Nelson for assignment. Adams, who turned 26 Wednesday, started at third base in his major league debut and singled in the sixth inning ... Wells moved from designated hitter to second base and Jayson Nix from second to shortstop for the final out of the top of the ninth ... This was the shortest outing of Hughes' career.
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