SEATTLE - Ichiro Suzuki set the major league record for hits in a season with 259, breaking George Sisler's 84-year-old mark with three singles Friday. The Seattle star chopped a leadoff single in the first inning, then made history with a grounder up the middle in the third and added another infield hit in the sixth.
Fireworks went off after the record-breaking hit reached the outfield, creating a haze over Safeco Field, and Ichiro's teammates mobbed him at first base. The crowd gave him a standing ovation and Texas first baseman Mark Teixeira shook the Japanese outfielder's hand.
With the fans still cheering, Ichiro ran over to the first-base seats and shook hands with Sisler's 81-year-old daughter, Frances Sisler Drochelman, and other members of the Hall of Famer's family. Sisler set the mark in 1920 with the St. Louis Browns over a 154-game schedule. Ichiro broke it in the Mariners' 160th game of the year.
The first two hits came off Ryan Drese, making Ichiro 10-for-20 lifetime against him.
The Rangers righty ran the count full in the third, and Suzuki hit a bouncer up the middle, out of the reach of shortstop Michael Young.
As the ball rolled into center field, the Mariners began to empty their dugout and come out to congratulate Suzuki.
Moments after Ichiro's 258th hit, he scored his 100th run of the season. The Mariners batted around in the third inning, and Ichiro hit a long fly that Laynce Nix caught on the run for the third out.
There was a scary moment for Ichiro in the top of the third. The Gold Glove right fielder chased a foul ball by Ken Huckaby that landed in the stands, and casually hopped up on the low, padded fence - but then lost his balance. Ichiro fell awkwardly and came down straddling the fence, but was okay
The crowd at Safeco Field was on its feet and players in both dugouts were standing at the top rail when Suzuki led off the bottom of the first.
Ichiro quickly matched the mark, bouncing a single over the head of third baseman Hank Blalock.
Fans chanted "I-chi-ro! I-chi-ro!" and he acknowledged the ovation, briefly taking off his batting helmet. "I'd be totally shocked if Ichiro didn't get it," grandson Bo Drochelman said before the game. "We're here to celebrate baseball and my grandfather."
Ichiro's first-inning single was his 919th hit in the majors, breaking the record for most hits over a four-year span. Bill Terry of the New York Giants set the previous record of 918 hits from 1929-32.
