Seattle Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki returned from the shelf on Tuesday, the first of September, with a two hit performance. Having started a new hit streak on the twenty-second of August, Ichiro has now hit in all six games since returning to the Mariners line-up.
A seven game hit streak is usually a pointless stat to report, but in this case it is very significant. On September 6, Ichiro recorded his 195th hit of the 2009 season and the 2,000th hit of his brief yet remarkable career.
- Seattle Post - Ichiro Suzuki tips his helmet to the standing Oakland fans Sunday after collecting #2000
Suzuki now needs just five hits to reach the 200 mark on the season. This will be his ninth straight 200 hit campaign and the fourth such season where Ichiro competed for a batting title.
Ichiro won the batting titles in both 2001 (.350) and 2004 (.372) and finished second in the AL in 2007 (.351) 12 points behind Magglio Ordonez. This year Twins Catcher Joe Mauer is leading with a .366 average and Ichiro is only four points back. With 24 Mariners games left, the superlative Suzuki can definitely get involved in a good game of tag with the powerful Mauer of 2009.
As things stand, 200 hits and building on one of the most impressive hitting records of all time are well in hand. Another batting title is a real possibility. All of that and the Mariners are only eight back in the Wild Card standings…
Ichiro Suzuki has had 11 hits in the last six games and seems to have his calf injury and nerves tucked firmly in his back pocket.
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:29 pm
[...] 1. – Ichiro and the Streak. Part 2. – Ichiro and the Streak – Update. Part 3. – Once in a [...]