Last night the Miami Marlins played the last of a three-game road stretch against the Seattle Mariners. For former long-time Mariner Ichiro Suzuki, who played with the team from 2001 until 2012, this was possibly his last game playing at Safeco Field. At 43 this could be his last season and the Marlins will not play in Seattle again for several years. Despite losing 10-5, Suzuki put on a vintage performance, including an amazing 9th inning moment.
Ichiro's vintage performance
In what could be his last game in Seattle, the Miami Marlins gave Ichiro Suzuki the start in right field.
He made that decision pay off as he had 2 hits, 1 run and 1 RBI in his 4 at bats. However, what happened during his fourth and final at-bat in the 9th inning is where the magic truly happened.
With the fans chanting his name, Ichiro swung at the first pitch thrown by Seattle Mariners reliever Evan Marshall and hit a home run 380 feet out to right center field. After the game, Ichiro said through an interpreter that, "I have to pinch myself to make sure that really happened" when he got asked about the home run. The fan who caught the home run even gave the ball back to Ichiro and in return got an autographed bat.
This was Ichiro's first home run at Safeco Field since April 18, 2012, and his first as an opposing player.
It was also his first home run since September 6, 2016. At 43 he became the oldest in Marlins franchise history to hit a home run. He also became the oldest player since then 48-year-old Julio Franco hit a home run for the New York Mets in 2007.
Ichiro gives the Seattle Mariners fans something to remember with a homer in his final at-bat in Seattle pic.twitter.com/kuxxH25K5L
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) April 20, 2017
Honoring Ichiro
In honor of what was possibly Ichiro Suzuki's last game at Safeco Field, the Seattle Mariners honored him by giving out a unique collectible for the finale against the Miami Marlins.
The first 20,000 fans at the game all received the 'Ichiro Dual Bobblehead.'
The bobblehead depicts two Suzuki's side-by-side, one in a Mariners uniform and one in a Marlins uniform. The Mariners Ichiro is in honor of his 2004 season, in which he set the single-season record for hits with 262. The Marlins Ichiro is in honor of his 3,000th hit that he recorded last year to join the elite 3,000 career hit club.
@UniWatch @PhilHecken Mariners planning Ichiro dual bobblehead w/ both jerseys. Notice correct colors and even correct hosiery lengths!! pic.twitter.com/J9iCqBsyqY
— David Sperino (@dws723) January 26, 2017
Will Ichiro be back?
After the game, Ichiro Suzuki was asked if this would be his last at-bat in Seattle. He responded by saying that, "I think I will be back whenever that next game is here. I hope to be back." Before the start of the 2017 season, Ichiro said in an interview with the Miami Herald that he wants to play until he is 50.