NEW YORK -- Raul Ibanez was more than happy to turn those welcome back calls of "Ra-uuul!" into a good old Bronx cheer. Ibanez again treated Yankee Stadium as his personal playground, hitting a grand slam and two-run homer Wednesday night to help the Seattle Mariners rout New York 12-2. "I cant tell that much of a difference even though when you hear it, depending on how youre doing, you know," Ibanez said with a sly smile. Ibanezs slam came during a seven-run first inning. Yankees backup shortstop Alberto Gonzalez got the final out in the ninth inning in his first professional pitching appearance. Every Seattle starter had at least one of its season-high 16 hits and Jesus Montero was the only starter who failed to score a run in the Mariners best output this year. The Mariners chased Phil Hughes after he got only two outs in the first. Trying to preserve his bullpen, Yankees manager Joe Girardi had Brett Marshall throw 108 pitches in his big league debut, then brought in Gonzalez. "We need one out," Girardi said. "Its not something I want to do, but for me to bring in another pitcher. I think it doesnt make a lot of sense there." Ibanez has connected three times in the first two games of his return to the ballpark in which -- last season at 40 years old -- he electrified crowds in late September and October with several key homers in the Yankees run to the AL championship series. This time, the cheers were replaced by boos for Hughes (2-3) when Ibanez connected for his 11th career slam. Ibanez homered again in the fifth inning off Marshall. "I said silliness happens here. Theres also something that happens here with Raul," teammate Brendan Ryan said. "Its awesome." Ibanez thinks its a coincidence that he had another special performance here. He says its not Yankee Stadium; his swing has been improving the past week or so. Ibanez raised his average that was .158 at the end of April to .224 after his 2 for 5 night. Kendrys Morales, Michael Morse and Michael Saunders each drove in a run in the highest-scoring first inning at the stadium that opened in 2009. Kyle Seager added a three-run shot off Marshall in the sixth. "He saved the bullpen is what he did for us," Girardi said of Marshalls 5 2-3 innings. "Thats not easy being a rookie, first time out there, and being asked to do that." The first inning outburst made it easy for Japanese right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (5-1), who came in with a 1.74 ERA. He gave up solo homers to Vernon Wells -- his 10th -- and Chris Stewart. Delivering dastardly breaking pitches with a motion that has a lengthy pause when he reaches the top of his high leg kick, Iwakuma kept the Yankees off-balance. He gave up a season-high eight hits and two runs without walking a batter for the second straight start. Iwakuma struck out four. "Those were big gifts," Iwakuma said through a translator of the run support. After getting Saunders to lead off the game with a fly to left field on the second pitch of the game, nothing was easy for Hughes in the shortest start of his career. Dustin Ackley walked and Seager singled before Morales had an RBI single. Morse followed with another RBI hit before Hughes walked Justin Smoak to load the bases ahead of Ibanez. Former Yankees prospect Montero singled and, after a forceout, Saunders, the 10th batter of the inning, doubled in a run to make it 7-0 and chase Hughes. The right-hander never failed to make it out of the first in his 110 previous starts. "When I tried to go to changeup, slider, curveball, it seemed like nothing was there," Hughes said. "Nothing I could really go to to try and find a way out of it, and thats what happens." Ibanez hit an opposite-field drive to left field in the fifth and Seagers long ball came in the sixth to make it 12-2. The Yankees bullpen remained empty, leaving it up to Marshall to pitch deep into the game. With a chance for his first career three-homer game, Ibanez popped out foul in the sixth to David Adams, another Yankees player making his big league debut -- on his 26th birthday. Ibanez flied out in the eighth. He has 17 career mulithomer games. His previous came in the Bronx against Oakland on Sept. 22 for the Yankees against Oakland. Gonzalez, acquired last week from the Chicago Cubs, moved from shortstop to the mound with two outs in the ninth and runners on first and third. He retired Robert Andino on a routine flyball. NOTES: Adams got his first career hit in the sixth. ... Mariners manager Eric Wedge said LHP Felix Hernandez was "pretty sore this morning" but the ace should be fine after tweaking his back Tuesday night. Wedge said he doesnt think there will be any alteration of his routine between starts. ... Seattle OF Franklin Gutierrez (strained right hamstring) ran Tuesday and could begin a rehab assignment Thursday or Friday. ... The Yankees designated 3B Chris Nelson for assignment.Stitched Blue Jays Jerseys . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. Toronto Blue Jays Shirts . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/ . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. Toronto Blue Jays Store . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Toronto Blue Jays Gear . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46.CINCINNATI -- For the better part of eight seasons, Jay Bruce was a model of stability and professionalism for the Cincinnati Reds organization.On Monday afternoon, Bruce was traded to the New York Mets in a deal designed to further the Reds rebuilding efforts.When Cincinnati begins a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night, a No. 32 jersey will be conspicuously absent from the large locker on the far left-hand corner of the clubhouse.Over the past nine seasons, we couldnt have asked for a better person to represent our team, our city and Major League Baseball, both on and off the field, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said in a statement.During these difficult last few months, he has answered questions about his future almost daily, while continuing to handle himself with the class and professionalism he has shown since the day we drafted him.In exchange for Bruce, Cincinnati acquired infielder Dilson Herrera and left-hander Max Wotell. Herrera, 22, originally was signed by Pittsburgh in 2010 and was acquired by the Mets in August 2013. Wotell, 19, was the Mets third-round pick in 2015.This was a very difficult trade for us to make because of how our fans, ownership and everyone in our organization feel about Jay, but we acquired two quality players who better fit the direction our organization is heading, Jocketty said.Herrera is considered one of the brightest young stars in the game today. Wotell fits in with the other good, strong arms weve been trying to stockpile in our minor league system.The Cardinals, who begin play Tuesday in second place in the National LLeague Central behind the Chicago Cubs, made a deal to bolster their bullpen at Mondays non-waiver trade deadline, acquiring lefty Zack Duke from the Chicago White Sox.ddddddddddddThe Reds and Cardinals will play six times over the next nine days, beginning with this weeks three-game set. Coming into Tuesdays series opener, St. Louis is 18-4 over the past 11 series at Great American Ball Park.Cincinnati will try to reverse that trend on Tuesday behind right-hander Dan Straily who went from a long reliever to being among the Reds most dependable starters.Opponents are hitting just .207 against Straily, who will make his first career start against St. Louis. He leads the Reds staff in innings pitched (122), strikeouts (97) and quality starts (12).The Cardinals counter with Adam Wainwright, who has overcome a rough start to the season to post a 1.77 ERA in July, which ranks ninth among all major league pitchers.St. Louis is 14-3 in his last 17 starts and has won six of his last seven road starts.Cincinnati has had success against Wainwright, however. His 4.44 ERA against the Reds is the second-highest against any opponent. Wainwright allowed two earned runs in six innings in a 3-2 win against them on June 9. On April 16, Cincinnati roughed him up with a season-high seven runs allowed.Hes been good, very good, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. The fastball execution has been very sharp here lately. Good movement on the cutter sinker and that makes the curveball better. ' ' '