Late rally sparks M’s
ARLINGTON, Texas — Ichiro Suzuki and the Seattle Mariners are relishing their roles as spoilers.
Ichiro had two more hits to move within eight of George Sisler’s major league season record, and Randy Winn’s infield single in the ninth inning helped the Mariners end the Texas Rangers’ five-game winning streak with an 8-7 victory Friday night.
The Rangers are tied for second in the American League West with the Anaheim Angels — three games behind the division-leading Oakland Athletics. They’re also six games behind Boston in the wild-card standings.
“The last two years, we’ve been in (the Rangers’) situation when we struggled and didn’t make it, so it’s nice to beat teams in that situation,” Ichiro said. “We can play for that now and enjoy it.”
Ichiro, 2 for 4, singled in the third and sixth, had a sacrifice fly in the fourth and was intentionally walked in the ninth.
He moved past Ty Cobb and into sole possession of seventh place on the all-time list with 249. Sisler had 257 hits in 1920.
With the game tied at 7, Francisco Cordero (3-3) came in to start the ninth. Scott Spiezio and Dan Wilson had one-out singles to put runners on first and third. Pinch-hitter Edgar Martinez struck out, then manager Buck Showalter had Cordero intentionally walk Ichiro to load the bases.
Winn followed by beating out an infield chopper that bounced over Cordero’s head to drive in pinch-runner Willie Bloomquist with the go-ahead run.
Cordero had no chance to make a play, and by the time second baseman Eric Young fielded the ball and threw to first, Winn was easily safe.
“They hit it to a place where there was nobody,” Cordero said. “He can run and that beat us. I’ll come back and do my job tomorrow if I get the chance.”
Seattle manager Bob Melvin wasn’t surprised Showalter walked Ichiro in that situation.
“He’s not going to let the best hitter in the game beat him,” Melvin said. “That’s why I have Randy hitting behind him. I didn’t blame him for doing it. I’ve seen him walk Barry Bonds with the bases loaded and walk in a run. He’s going to do what he knows gives him the best shot.”
Said Ichiro: “In a one-run game, a tight game like that, it’s happened to me before. It wasn’t automatic, but it wasn’t a surprise.”
Ron Villone (7-5) allowed one hit in one-plus inning for the win, and J.J. Putz got three outs for his ninth save.