WASHINGTON – Wilson Ramos hit a tie-breaking homer in the seventh inning, Tanner Roark pitched seven strong innings and Washington defeated San Francisco, taking the deciding game in a series pairing the National League East and West Division leaders.
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An even smaller subgroup exists: Players who recorded 3,000 or more hits within a 16-year window.
Ichirio is the first Japanese player to achieve the feat in Major League Baseball and the 30th to achieve the feat of the 18,506 players who have suited up in the Majors since 1876, according to Baseball Reference. The Miami Marlins outfielder made the hit in the seventh inning of Sunday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
And here’s the call in his native Japan.
“We gave him a big hug and told him he deserved it”, said Dee Gordon, who was the first player to reach Suzuki as he stood on third.
So it was that Ichiro got hit No. 2,999 Saturday, and started Sunday’s game in which he recorded his 3,000th big-league hit on a triple, the first player to triple for that milestone since Paul Molitor.
Through his interpreter, Ichiro said more than the 3,000 hits itself, when he saw his teammates rush onto the field with joy and the fans cheering for him is what makes it so great to play baseball.
Sakamoto heard him say several years ago that he would retire if his belly protruded, but said Ichiro was still in excellent physical condition and “far from retirement”.
Paxton allowed just five hits over 8 1/3 innings, the longest outing of his career, and struck out Mike Trout four times on the Angels star’s 25th birthday.
“He’s just continuing to roast me right now, but it’s all in good fun”, Bour said. He got 1,278 hits while playing nine years in Japan before becoming the American League Rookie of the Year and MVP with Seattle in 2001.
The hit came in the top of the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
But Ichiro got there despite coming to the U.S.at 27 years old – by which time most players are past their peak. “Today when I got my 3,000th hit, I was more happy for the people around me and for the people that have supported me and have cheered me on”.
Alex Rodriguez reached 3,000 hits back in 2015 while playing with the Yankees and now in 2016, Ichiro has joined the very elite crew.
Suzuki was also the third player to reach 3,000 at age 42 or older, and he has the respect of virtually everyone in baseball.
The Japanese phenomenon proved his abilities despite starting his Major League Baseball journey at the advanced age of 27. Mattingly said X-rays showed no break. Parra played right field on Sunday while OF Carlos Gonzalez rested his sore left ankle.
Idelson said that anyone with a ticket stub from a 2016 Marlins game will be admitted free to the Hall of Fame through the end of the year in honor of Ichiro.
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CHICAGO – Manny Machado homered a career-high three times in three innings as Baltimore routed Chicago to win the three-game series. When he and his teammates returned to Marlins Park to begin a homestand, Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson was there to collect additional Suzuki souvenirs. He will be opposed by Cole Hamels (12-3, 2.89).
