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Wilson goes out a winner

Ichiro Suzuki, left, whose 4-for-5 night shot him past 200 hits for a fifth straight season, and Dan Wilson, who played in his last game, share a moment with Wilson's son, Eli, 6, following the Mariners' 4-1 win over Oakland on Friday night in Seattle. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Bob Finnigan Seattle Times
Ichiro Suzuki, left, whose 4-for-5 night shot him past 200 hits for a fifth straight season, and Dan Wilson, who played in his last game, share a moment with Wilson's son, Eli, 6, following the Mariners' 4-1 win over Oakland on Friday night in Seattle. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

SEATTLE – With his son Eli alongside him on the bench and wife Annie and the rest of the family in the stands, Dan Wilson played his final game Friday night.

With him went the last direct link to the 1995 Mariners team that turned Seattle into a baseball town, led to the construction of Safeco Field, which stands as an emotional memorial to that group.

Fittingly, Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner were also in the dugout when Wilson came off the field for the last time after taking warmups and then a warm embrace from Jamie Moyer at the start of the second inning.

The Mariners activated Wilson from the 60-day disabled list so he could make his final appearance.

The 14-year veteran, the best fielding catcher of all time, went out with his helmet held high, waving it toward the stands in appreciation of the prolonged standing ovation he received as he walked off.

Fittingly, he went out a winner as Seattle beat Oakland 4-1. The Mariners had a .533 win percentage (667-584) in games in which Wilson appeared.

Wilson ranks among the top 25 among major league catchers all-time in several categories, including: .995 fielding percentage (No. 1 all time); 1,299 games (20th); 209 doubles (22nd); 437 runs; and 504 RBIs (24th).

Speaking of Wilson as a former opponent, especially when his Cleveland clubs had big series against Seattle, Mike Hargrove said: “Dan was always one of my favorite players, with the way he played and the way he carried himself. There was always a sense of stability about him. There were some volatile players on Seattle teams then, but Dan always seemed to help keep that team on an even keel and focused and able to do the job.”

Before his final night was over, Wilson wound up sharing the spotlight with Ichiro Suzuki, who had four hits to reach 200 for the fifth straight season, and Moyer, who seemed rejuvenated after throwing to Wilson for even one inning. Ichiro has 202 hits this season.

The old man of the mound, who keeps going while one teammate after another leaves, Moyer threw a five-hitter for eight innings and finished 13-7 with Eddie Guardado working the ninth for his 36th save.

Moyer gave up a single to Jason Kendall and double to Mark Kotsay with one out in the first, but set down Eric Chavez and Bobby Kielty on three more pitches. He threw 13 strikes in 17 pitches to Wilson.

After giving up the two hits in the first and having Yorvit Torrealba replace Wilson, Moyer set down 20 of the next 24 batters.

Ichiro erased what little concern there may have been that he would not reach 200 hits with a double and a single in his first two at-bats, then added two more hits to finish the night 4 for 5.

The Mariners All-Star outfielder became only the sixth player in major-league history to collect 200 or more hits in five straight seasons.