JAPAN TIMES

 

MIAMI – Ichiro Suzuki is rapidly pulling away from Wee Willie Keeler on the all-time hit list with the same approach made famous by the late Hall of Famer.

Again on Monday, Ichiro hit ‘em where they ain’t.
Pressed into regular duty by teammate Christian Yelich back injury, Ichiro had four hits, including a single in the Miami Marlins’ two-run eighth inning, and they rallied past the Tampa Bay Rays 7-6.

Ichiro is 10-for-13 in the past three games to raise his average to .417 and increase his career hit total to 2,960. He overtook Keeler for 32nd place on the all-time list Sunday, and is closing in on another Hall of Famer, Sam Crawford (2,964).

Ichiro once visited the New York grave of Keeler, who died in 1923, but doesn’t want to dwell these days on his place in the record book. He’s too busy playing regularly, with teammate Yelich nursing a troublesome back.

“I have to concentrate on being ready,” Ichiro said through a translator. “I don’t have time to really study the history of all the players. I’m just trying to prepare myself, so when my name is called I’m ready.”
How does he feel about his recent flurry of hits?

“I feel normal,” he said.

Actually, the hit parade isn’t normal, even for Ichiro. It has been a decade since he totaled 10 hits or more in a three-game span.

The rest of the Marlins’ outfield also contributed to their comeback win.
Slugger Giancarlo Stanton showed signs of emerging from a prolonged slump, putting the ball in play in all three at-bats and reaching on a single and walk. Marcell Ozuna had three hits, including his ninth homer.

The Marlins trailed 6-5 in the eighth, but their first two hitters singled off Erasmo Ramirez (6-2). Pinch hitter Cole Gillespie’s sacrifice fly tied the game, and Ichiro singled to put runners at first and third with one out.

Martin Prado then hit a one-hopper that deflected off the glove of reliever Alex Colome. He had to settle for an out at first as the go-ahead run scored.

The 42-year-old Ichiro also singled three times off lefty Matt Moore — to center in the first, to left in the second and to right in the fourth.
It was the first time since September 2012 that Ichiro had three straight multi-hit days in a single season. It was also

Tigers 5, Phillies 4
In Detroit, Miguel Cabrera hit two of the Tigers’ four solo homers, then scored the tiebreaking run in the seventh.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Dodgers 1, Reds 0
In Los Angeles, Clayton Kershaw tossed a two-hitter for his third shutout of the season.

Giants 1, Padres 0
In San Francisco, Brandon Belt scored from first base when pinch hitter Hunter Pence’s bloop double to short right field fell between two San Diego players with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Mets 7, Nationals 1
In Washington, David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes and Neil Walker homered to lead New York to victory.

Cardinals 4, Cubs 3
In St. Louis, Randal Grichuck hit a go-ahead solo shot in the ninth inning.

Pirates 6, Rockies 3
In Pittsburgh, Pirates starter Ryan Vogelsong was carted off the field after getting struck in the head by a pitch in the second inning.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Angels 2, Rangers 0
In Arlington, Texas Albert Pujols hit a two-run home run, the 569th of his career.

White Sox 7, Indians 6 (1st)

Indians 5, White Sox 1 (2nd)
In Chicago, Rajai Davis’ two-run homer in the fifth inning of the second game put Cleveland ahead to stay, Jose Ramirez hit his second long ball of the day and Juan Uribe also went deep.
In the opener, Brett Lawrie broke a fifth-inning tie with a three-run blast.

Royals 10, Twins 4
In Minneapolis, Salvador Perez had a career-high five hits, including a double, a triple and an RBI.

Athletics 5, Mariners 0
In Seattle, Rich Hill pitched eight strong innings to win his fourth straight start.

The Mariners’ Norichika Aoki was 0-for-3.