The Seattle Mariners moved Ichiro Suzuki back to the leadoff spot on Thursday and got what they’d wanted from him when he batted third – a big clutch hit.
After a 10-game stretch batting third, Ichiro was returned to the leadoff job he’s far more comfortable with, and he tripled home three runs against the Texas Rangers.
As a No. 3 batter, Ichiro hit .270 in 37 at-bats and had only two RBI. He got more than that with one swing in the second inning.
“Ichiro was never going to bat third the rest of the season, it was just something we did to change the mix,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We need production from someone in the heart of the order, and Ichiro was our best hitter.
“He’s also the best leadoff hitter in baseball. He would never come to me and ask not to bat third, but I know where he’s most comfortable. We needed him to try something for awhile and he was more than willing to do it for the team.”
Melvin’s new-look lineup was his 63rd in 70 games, had Randy Winn batting second and – for the first time – Jolbert Cabrera batting third and playing second base in place of Bret Boone.
It also had John Olerud batting cleanup.
Why was Ichiro moved Thursday?
“Our last two games weren’t feel-good games, so it seemed time for a change,” Melvin said.
Ichiro had that three-run triple, Winn was hit by a pitch, had three hits and scored twice and John Olerud had an RBI batting fourth. Boone got the day off in part because of his career record against right-hander Joaquin Benoit, the Texas starting pitcher. Boone was 0-for-11 against Benoit.
Will Boone be back in the lineup tonight?
“Probably,” Melvin said, “but I’m taking it one day at a time.”
Around the horn: Edgar Martinez matched the franchise record for most walks in a single game, drawing five of them. … Rich Aurilia and Scott Spiezio haven’t had the seasons they envisioned in Seattle, but both have done damage on 3-0 pitches. Aurilia homered on Wednesday when Melvin green-lighted him in that count, and Spiezio owns two home runs on 3-0 counts. … For about 20 minutes before the game the fire alarm blared at Ameriquest Field (formerly the Ballpark at Arlington), with a recorded voice urging everyone to leave the facility. No player from either team left the clubhouse, and the alarm was eventually traced to a blown fuse. … Hiram Bocachica went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Thursday, but earned his keep with a marvelous catch in center field. With two outs and two Rangers on base, Bocachica raced to the wall in center field to get to Hank Blalock’s bid for extra bases. Bocachica got a glove on it, had the ball bounce off his chest and then caught it bare-handed for the third out. … Orlando Gomez, the Seattle bullpen coach and perhaps the least known of the Mariners staff, turned 58 Thursday. He has been in a baseball uniform as a player, coach or manager for the past 40 years.
Larry LaRue
The News Tribune
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