Mariners Greatest Hits: The Left Fielder Raul Ibanez

June 11th, 2007

Before his 1st unbelievably hot streak in August of 2007, Ibanez was still having a great year. In fact, his game in mid-June two months before was arguably the greatest game he ever played in a Mariners uniform.

On this day, there was little that Ibanez didn’t do. From his many extra-base hits to his couple of long bombs to his timely clutch hitting, the Mariners were able to beat the Cleveland Indians on the road because of the Mariners left fielder.

His impact wasn’t felt until the 3rd, but it was felt strongly by the opposition. Up 1-0 at the time, Ibanez would smash his first of two home runs on this day to extend the lead to 3-0.

And then, in the very next frame, in his next at-bat, he gave the Indians another punch in the gut with his next home run.

In the 7th, Ibanez would hit a triple to right for his third knock of the game, but it wouldn’t amount to any Mariners runs. In the 9th, however, when Ibanez would have his next at-bat, he would hit the Indians with a knockout punch.

With pinch-runner, Willie Bloomquist, on first, Ibanez stepped to the plate with a chance to break the game’s 7-7 tie. With one swing of the bat, he drove the ball to right field away from the fielders giving Bloomquist enough time to sprint home.

The Mariners would win the game because of Ibanez’s double, 8-7. He would only be a single shy of hitting for the cycle, but that doesn’t diminish what he was able to do.

Next: All-Time Mariners Left Fielder

That’s what we chose as the best of Raul Ibanez’s time with the Mariners. Do you feel we missed a game? Let us know on Twitter at SodoMojoFS or in the comments section below.

Tomorrow we will be covering our final all-time roster spot with the DH.