SEATTLE (AP) -Ichiro Suzuki has tied the record for most career hits by a Japanese player, hitting a grand slam in his season debut following his first career trip to the disabled list.
Suzuki golfed a full-count pitch from Los Angeles’ Angels reliever Jason Bulger four rows into the right field bleachers in the bottom of the eighth for his first slam since July 18, 2003.
It gave the surprising Mariners an 11-3 lead – and more thrills to a crowd of 18,516 already buzzing from Ken Griffey Jr.’s 613th career home run three innings earlier.
Suzuki, an eight-time All Star and eight-time Gold Glove outfielder, tied Isao Harimoto’s 3,085 hits.
The record is a big deal in Japan, so a television network flew Harimoto to Seattle for the game.
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