SCOUTING REPORT: It's all Ichiro all the time. The rightfielder is having an amazing August that not even a beaning Wednesday could slow down. Ichiro Suzuki has hit in 16 of 19 games with 41 hits in 81 at-bats for a .506 average. For the season, he is batting .370 with 197 hits and 62 multihit games. "Boy he's hot," Rays manager Lou Piniella said. "When he gets hot, boy he gets them quick. When he gets hot, he places the ball just about anywhere he wants it."
Ichiro was supposed to get Thursday off. But the game was rained out, and Ichiro led off Friday against the Tigers with a single. He had four hits Saturday.
"What you almost have to do is make him hit the ball in one spot of the field and put as many people as you can over there," Piniella said. "I'm serious. When he's hot like that, pitch him away, and that's it. Move your leftfielder and centerfielder over, your rightfielder over and make him hit from the middle of the field. You stop the doubles and triples as much and give him more singles."
CONNECTIONS: Piniella managed Seattle, and Rays hitting coach Lee Elia, bench coach John McLaren and bullpen coach Matt Sinatro were on his staff. Rays pitcher Jorge Sosa was a Mariners prospect. Seattle's Randy Winn was a Tampa Bay All-Star. SEASON SERIES: The teams split four games this month in St. Petersburg. Seattle leads the series 41-25 and is 19-13 at home.
