Ichiro Within 2 of MLB Record with 2 Hits vs Rangers

Ichiro Suzuki had two hits to move within two of a record ninth-straight 200-hit season, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 8-3 in a game called by rain with three outs remaining Saturday night.

Suzuki doubled in the first and homered in the third before going hitless in his last three at-bats. He shares the mark with Willie Keeler, who had eight consecutive 200-hit seasons from 1984-1901.

The Rangers had two men on in the bottom of the ninth when umpires stopped play because the weather was too much to overcome.

Ken Griffey Jr., Franklin Gutierrez and Jack Hannahan each had two RBIs, and Brandon Morrow (1-4) pitched five innings to win for the first time since Sept. 26, 2008.

Morrow, who gave up five hits and three runs, made his first start since being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday.

Julio Borbon homered and drove in three runs for the Rangers, who slipped three games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League wild-card race.

Texas starter Kevin Millwood (10-10) allowed eight hits and five runs in 3 2-3 innings. Since July 1, the right-hander is 2-5 with a 6.29 ERA in 12 starts.

There was a 17-minute rain delay before the game started. Rain picked up again in the seventh, but play continued.

On the final play of the game, Mariners shortstop Jack Wilson couldn’t field a grounder in the muddy infield and Marlon Byrd nearly skidded past second attempting to slide.

The game was finally called after a delay of 1 hour, 6 minutes, officially snapping Seattle’s five-game losing streak.

Suzuki was mired in a 1 for 17 slump since picking up his 2,000th career hit last Sunday.

The nine-time All-Star doubled to right on the first pitch of the game and scored on Griffey’s single.

Leading off the third, Suzuki drove a 2-1 pitch from Millwood into the Rangers bullpen in right. It was Suzuki’s ninth home run of the season.

Griffey added an RBI double later in the inning to extend Seattle’s advantage to 3-0.

After Borbon hit a two-run homer, Gutierrez answered with a two-run double in the fourth that put Seattle ahead 5-2.

Rangers first baseman Chris Davis had his home run leading off the fifth overturned after an umpire review.

Gutierrez and Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu protested the call, prompting the review. Umpires ruled that Davis’ shot hit the top of the wall in the center field.

Davis, who was awarded a double, eventually scored on Borbon’s ground out.

Hannahan had a two-run double and Beltre chipped with an RBI single to cap the scoring.

NOTES: Millwood needs 4 1-3 more innings to hit 180 for the season and guarantee a $12 million contract next year. … Wakamatsu, who lives outside of Fort Worth, had an opportunity to watch his son play in a high school football game Saturday. “I hadn’t seen him play any sport since February, so it was nice.” Wakamatsu said of his son, Jake. “He did a nice job.”

9/13/2009 1:00 AM DAVID JIMENEZ, Associated Press Writer ARLINGTON, Texas