Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ichiro shines in defeat


Kansas City's Joey Gathright scoots past Seattle catcher Kenji Johjima to score in the fourth inning on Saturday. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mike Hargrove is in his second season managing the Seattle Mariners and he’s still amazed by Ichiro Suzuki.

Ichiro stole his A.L. single-season record 33rd consecutive base in the third inning and extended another major league record in the Kansas City Royals’ 7-4 victory over Seattle on Saturday night.

Ichiro singled in his first two at-bats to extend his major league record for consecutive 200-hit seasons to begin a career to six. Ichiro went 3 for 5 and scored two runs.

“He’s got an incredible ability to put the ball in play and swing the bat very well,” Hargrove said. “He does it so well and so consistently that people take it for granted that he’s going to get 200 hits and they don’t realize how absolutely difficult that is. If it were easier, there’d be a whole lot of people doing it and there aren’t.”

Ichiro said he wasn’t even aware of the stolen-base record, but getting 200 hits again was important to him.

“I always make it a goal for myself every year and the people watching are also aware of it,” he said. “To continue to do this is an important thing for me. I’m still happy about the record, because that’s two different things.”

Mark Redman (10-9) was bidding for his third complete game of the season before Mike Morse and Ichiro each doubled in a run in the ninth to cut it to 7-4. Joe Nelson relieved Redman and struck out Adrian Beltre on three pitches for his eighth save in eight chances.

Redman yielded four runs and 10 hits. He struck out four and walked two.

Ichiro singled in the third for his second hit of the game and advanced to second on pitcher Mark Redman’s throwing error. He then stole third as part of a double steal. Ichiro’s stolen base broke the league record for consecutive swipes previously held by Kansas City’s Willie Wilson, who was successful on 32 straight attempts in 1980.

Vince Coleman holds the major league record with 44 straight steals for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1989.

Ichiro scored on Raul Ibanez’s sacrifice fly to give the Mariners a 2-0 lead, but Kansas City responded with two runs in the bottom half and five more in the fourth.

Angel Berroa walked ahead of Joey Gathright’s first major league home run in the third, and the Royals batted around in the fourth.

Joel Pineiro (8-12) allowed seven runs and seven hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out two.