Raul on impressive power surge at age 41

SEATTLE -- With three home runs in his past two games going into Tuesday's series opener against the Pirates, Mariners outfielder Raul Ibanez has continued a torrid stretch during which he's hit 15 of his 17 home runs since May 10.

Baltimore's Chris Davis is the only American League player with more homers during that span, with 17.

"Raul has been off the charts," manager Eric Wedge said.

Ibanez's eight long balls in June are tied for the most in the AL this month, joining Davis, Adam Dunn of the White Sox and Evan Longoria of the Rays.

Most impressive is the fact that Ibanez is doing this at age 41. He's just the 11th player in Major League history to hit 15 or more home runs at age 41 or older. The record for most homers in a season by a player 41 or older is 29 by Ted Williams in 1960.

Ibanez hit 19 home runs last season for the Yankees in 384 at-bats. He'd had 208 at-bats this season going into Tuesday's game, giving him a home run every 12.24 at-bats. Among players with 10 or more homers so far this season, only Davis (one every 10.30) and Atlanta's Evan Gattis (one every 11.64) have a higher ratio.

Since May 10, Ibanez's ratio is one home run every 9.80 at-bats.