Ichiro Moves 2 Closer to 2,000-Hit Mark in Win
Ichiro Suzuki had two hits to move within four of 2,000 for his career and is likely to become the second-fastest player in history to reach that plateau. Al Simmons did it in 1,390 games while Suzuki has played in 1,391. George Sisler is currently second on the list in 1,414 games.
Jose Lopez homered and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 6-3 on Friday night.
Ryan Rowland-Smith pitched eight innings for his first win since Aug. 9 and the Mariners moved eight games over .500 for the first time since 2007.
Nomar Garciaparra homered for the A’s, who have lost six straight to the Mariners.
The 35-year-old Suzuki also moved closer to becoming the first player to have 200 hits or more in nine straight seasons. With 191 hits this season, Suzuki needs only nine more to break the consecutive season mark he currently holds with Willie Keeler (1894-1901).
Seattle scored four in the second against Oakland rookie Clayton Mortensen (0-2), who was called up from the minors earlier in the day to make only his second start in the majors.
Jack Wilson hit a bases-loaded single to make it 2-0 before Suzuki chased a pitch out of the strike zone and singled to left for another run. Franklin Gutierrez followed with an RBI single to make it 4-0.
Rowland-Smith (3-2), who had gone four straight starts without a win, made it hold up.
The lefty allowed four hits, striking out four and walking one while going eight innings for the second straight start. He gave up a RBI double to Ryan Sweeney in the third and a two-run home run to Garciaparra in the seventh on a ball that glanced off center fielder Gutierrez’s glove before going over the fence, but was otherwise solid.
Mark Lowe pitched the ninth for his second save in eight chances, completing the five-hitter.
Mortensen was strong after digging a four-run hole in the second inning.
Oakland’s young right-hander, who was acquired from St. Louis as part of the Matt Holliday trade on July 24, allowed only six hits and struck out one but walked three, two of which scored. Mortensen settled down to retire 16 of the final 20 batters he faced.
Lopez hit his 21st home run of the season in the ninth off Oakland reliever Jeff Gray.
The Mariners played without designated hitter Ken Griffey Jr., who was a late scratch after originally being penciled in at the cleanup spot. Griffey, who missed six straight games before going hitless in four at-bats Thursday, was in the original lineup submitted by Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu but was pulled out after batting practice due to a sore knee.
Mike Sweeney replaced Griffey and went 1-for-5.
Notes: Wakamatsu was encouraged by RHP Carlos Silva’s 15-pitch outing for Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday and said the veteran pitcher could rejoin the Mariners on Tuesday in Anaheim if Tacoma is eliminated from the playoff race. If not, Silva will remain in the minors for at least one more appearance. … The A’s have now started a rookie pitcher in 97 games this season, an Oakland record and the most in the majors since Florida had 124 in 1998, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. … Garciaparra’s homer was only his third of the season. The veteran DH also singled in the ninth.
9/5/2009 12:43 AM OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)
Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki of Japan runs to first base after hitting a pop out off Oakland Athletics' Clayton Mortensen in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)