Ichiro brings the quest home

OAKLAND, Calif. — Ichiro Suzuki went home quietly, still waiting for the big hit he’s been chasing.

Bobby Crosby sent the Athletics into a decisive weekend series against Anaheim with the biggest hit of Oakland’s season.

Ichiro recorded his 256th hit to move within one of George Sisler’s record, but Crosby homered in the ninth inning to give the A’s a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.

With yet another dramatic hit by their rookie shortstop, the A’s (90-69) moved back into a tie with the Angels atop the American League West.

There won’t be a one-game playoff, either: The division champion will be determined in a season-ending, three-game series at the Coliseum.

“That’s the perfect way to end the season — just perfect,” Crosby said.

Crosby first thought about being a hero during the eighth, trying to ignore thoughts of a heroic trot around the bases while playing in the field. After fouling off a bunt attempt in the ninth, he pounded a one-out pitch from Scott Atchison (2-3) over the high fence in left for his 22nd homer.

With his grandparents in the screaming crowd, Crosby raised his fist and rounded the bases. His teammates mobbed him at home plate in a scene reminiscent of the A’s triumphant winning streaks of Septembers past.

“It’s the best feeling of my life, by far,” Crosby said. “That’s like a dream to run around and see your teammates waiting for you. I was thinking about (a homer) before, but when I finally got up there, I just tried to put it in play.

“That should get us going in the right direction. Hopefully we can take this into the weekend.”

Ichiro extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a run-scoring single in the third, pulling Seattle’s superb leadoff hitter within one hit of tying Sisler’s 84-year-old record of 257.

Ichiro went 1 for 5 and made the Mariners’ final out, striking out against Octavio Dotel in the ninth. But he’ll have plenty of chances to surpass the mark in a three-game series against the Texas Rangers back home at Safeco Field.

“I want to finish the season strong in Seattle and have no regrets,” said Ichiro, who didn’t want to talk directly about the record.

Ichiro struggled against three Oakland pitchers well aware of the record. He grounded out in the first, struck out in the fifth and flied to left in the seventh, with Eric Byrnes making an exceptional running catch.

Dotel (6-2) finished a perfect ninth by blowing a 3-2 fastball past Ichiro.

“I just wanted to show him my best pitches,” Dotel said. “He’s a great hitter, so I wanted to match up best on best with him.”

Jermaine Dye also homered for the A’s, who fell out of first place Wednesday night for the first time since Aug. 5. Early in Thursday’s game, Oakland’s fans cheered when the final score of Anaheim’s 6-3 loss was posted on the outfield scoreboard.

“We haven’t played particularly well in September, but right now, that doesn’t matter,” Oakland general manager Billy Beane said. “We were going to have to take two out of three this weekend even if we didn’t win today.”

Ichiro’s third-inning single drove home Miguel Olivo, but Oakland bounced back. Adam Melhuse reached on Willie Bloomquist’s error and scored on Mark Kotsay’s double, sliding under the tag at home.

Dye hit his 23rd homer in the fourth, but Olivo doubled and scored on Randy Winn’s single in the fifth.

Ryan Franklin finished his nightmare season with an outstanding performance against a playoff contender. Franklin, whose 16 losses are the most for a Seattle pitcher since 1992, allowed three hits over seven innings, retiring eight consecutive batters on two occasions.

Oakland’s Mark Redman yielded eight hits and two runs while retiring Ichiro twice. He pitched into the sixth, where reliever Ricardo Rincon escaped a bases-loaded jam by getting rookie Jeremy Reed on a popup.

Rincon recorded six consecutive outs in his longest outing of the season.

After a disappointing season, the Mariners should have an excellent final weekend with big crowds. In addition to Ichiro’s pursuit of Sisler’s record, the club will bid farewell to designated hitter Edgar Martinez, who’s retiring after the season.

“The year has been so tough on all of us, so this weekend will be nice,” said Bret Boone, who went 2 for 4. “It’s going to be sad. I have to speak (about Martinez), and I hope I hold it together.”

Notes

The A’s played without designated hitter Erubiel Durazo, who hurt his left wrist Wednesday night. He’s listed as day-to-day, trainer Larry Davis said. Catcher Damian Miller also sat out his second consecutive game with a thumb injury. … Oakland won the season series against Seattle for the first time since 2000.

•There were two defensive gems in the second inning. Oakland’s Jermaine Dye threw out Raul Ibanez at third base from right field when Ibanez attempted to advance on a fly ball. Ichiro Suzuki made an exceptional leaping catch on Bobby Crosby’s liner to the gap for the A’s.