Ichiro passes Sisler's mark of 257 hits

SEATTLE -- Ichiro Suzuki set the major league record for hits in a season with 258, breaking George Sisler's 84-year-old mark with a pair of singles Friday night.

The Seattle star chopped a leadoff single in the first inning, then made history with a grounder up the middle in the third.

Fireworks went off after the ball reached the outfield, creating a haze over Safeco Field, and Suzuki'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, Suzuki 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. Suzuki broke it in the Mariners' 160th game of the year.

Both hits came off Ryan Drese, making Suzuki 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 Suzuki's 258th hit, he scored his 100th run of the season. The Mariners batted around in the third inning, and Suzuki hit a long fly that Laynce Nix caught on the run for the third out.

There was a scary moment for Suzuki 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.

Suzuki fell awkwardly and came down straddling the fence, but was OK.

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.

Suzuki 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.

Each member of the family was in high spirits, fully expecting Suzuki to claim the record over the weekend.

"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."

Suzuki'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.

About 115 journalists from Japan were credentialed for the three-game series.

The 30-year-old Suzuki, a four-time All-Star, was a huge star in Japan during his nine seasons with Orix in Japan's Pacific League. He got 1,278 hits playing in his home country, and he left Japan with a .353 hitting average.

Earlier this season, Suzuki became the first player to collect at least 200 hits in each of his first major league seasons. His 221 singles this year also are a major league single-season record.

Suzuki was the American League's MVP and Rookie of the Year in 2001, his first season playing in the United States. He's also been a star with his defense in right field, winning three Gold Gloves in his first three seasons.