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<< Previous   of   Next >> Associated Press  (click to enlarge) Seattle Mariners starter Felix Hernandez pitches against the Cleveland Indians in the second inning Friday night. Hernandez pitched six innings, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out eight.   ADVERTISEMENT   ADDITIONAL ITEMS • Seattle Mariners (External Link) • Schedule (External Link) • Player Stats (External Link)   Related Stories • Hungry for a little bat 'n' cheese 7/19/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, July 19, 2008 M's off to good start Ibanez's sparks the offense with a grand slam as Seattle opens the season's second half with an 8-2 win. By Kirby Arnold Herald Writer SEATTLE -- If the speculation is correct and Raul Ibanez is one of the Seattle Mariners' hotter trade targets, he gave scouts plenty to consider Friday night. The Mariners' veteran left fielder went 3-for-4, hit a second-inning grand slam and scored twice to spark an 8-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Safeco Field. Ibanez has 12 homers and a team-high 59 runs batted in, along with the attention of other teams with the July 31 trade deadline approaching. The Diamond-backs, Mets and Yankees all have shown interest in Ibanez and the Mariners, 20 games below .500, are open to offers. Left-handed starter Jarrod Washburn and left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes also have been notable Mariners mentioned in trade speculation. Ibanez doesn't appear bothered by it. "It's irrelevant," he said. "You still have to prepare the same way. You approach the game the same way." Asked if he expected to be with the Mariners on Aug. 1, Ibanez said he doesn't think that far ahead. "It's hard enough to play as it is," he said. That's also manager Jim Riggleman's take on Ibanez. "He's such an even-keeled person," Riggleman said. "He's just going to go out and give you a good day's work, a great at-bat and good defense. He's been through it before. No matter where he's at, people are going to want to get him and I think he's accustomed to it." Ibanez grounded into a double play in the first inning, but came to bat with the bases loaded and two outs in the second and got the best of Indians starter Aaron Laffey. Ibanez, 0-for-6 in his career against Laffey, pulled a 1-1 pitch deep into the right-field seats for his sixth career grand slam. It gave the Mariners a 5-0 lead, which second baseman Jose Lopez increased with his three-run homer in the fourth inning. That was more than enough support for right-hander Felix Hernandez. Hernandez, in his second start since coming back from a sprained ankle, held the Indians to four hits and two runs, striking out eight in six innings. He has won five of his past six decisions and is 7-6 with a 2.95 earned run average. "He made a little protest about going back out (for the seventh inning)," Riggleman said. "But he realized that if he went out there and somebody got on base, we'd come out to get him. It was a nice jump from the 82 pitches he threw in Kansas City to (99) tonight. The reins will be off his next time out." Mark Lowe, Roy Corcoran and Cesar Jimenez each pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Catcher Jamie Burke made the most of a rare start, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run, plus the best defensive play of the night. Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt had back-handed a grounder deep in the hole in the eighth inning and, without a chance to get Ben Francisco at first base, he made the throw anyway. It was well out of Miguel Cairo's reach at first base, but Burke was backing up the play and lunged to catch the on the warning-track while in full sprint. "I go as hard as I can every time because of the one time you might save something," Burke said. New first baseman Bryan LaHair, called up Friday to essentially be Richie Sexson's replacement, made his major league debut with a pinch-hit appearance in the eighth inning, and many who remained in the crowd gave him a standing ovation. The feel-good night wasn't without a Mariners casualty. Jarrod Washburn, today's scheduled starter, came down with the flu and was scratched. Right-hander Miguel Batista, who'd been tabbed for Monday's game against the Red Sox, will start today instead. Read Kirby Arnold's blog on the Mariners at www.heraldnet.com

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