Ichiro needs run on runs to keep streak going
There isn’t a lot that Ichiro hasn’t accomplished this season, but there is something missing.
*He went past the career 2,000-hit mark in a game against the Athletics in Oakland in August
*He reached the 200-hit level for a record-breaking ninth consecutive season on Sept. 13 in Arlington during the second game of a doubleheader.
*He never went hitless in back-to-back games until Sept. 26-27 in Toronto, ending a streak of 180 games without back-to-back o-fers, the longest streak since Doc Cramer in 1934-35.
*He had his first, second and third walk-off hits of his career. Imagine that.
*He had his first ejection in either Japan or the United States (actually, it was in Canada) last weekend.
But one thing Ichiro probably won’t do for the first time in his nine All-Star seasons with the Mariners is score 100 runs.
He went into Wednesday night’s game against the Athletics with 85 runs scored and just five games remaining. He currently is tied with Lou Gehrig for the modern record of most seasons with at least 200 hits and 100 runs scored — eight. Ichiro and Willie Keeler are the only players to have had 200-100 seasons eight consecutive seasons.
— Jim Street