ST. LOUIS -- Ichiro Suzuki wasted little time continuing his pursuit of 3,000 Major League hits. The 42-year-old Marlins outfielder slapped a single to center off Michael Wacha to lead off Sunday's 6-3 win against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. He didn't stop there, slicing an opposite-field double in the sixth and an infield single to short in the eighth to give him 2,994 MLB hits.
The eighth-inning infield hit off Cards reliever Kevin Siegrist moved him to within six hits of 3,000. Leading off and playing center field, Ichiro tapped a clean single up the middle off Wacha on the fifth pitch of the game for No. 2,992.
Ichiro's 2,992nd hit
MIA@STL: Ichiro moves a step closer to 3,000 hits
Ichiro Suzuki leads the game off with a single to center field, needing only eight more hits to reach 3,000 for his career
Ichiro thought he had hit No. 2,993 in the third by beating out a tapper to shortstop. But the Cardinals challenged the safe call, and after a review of 57 seconds, it was overturned and Ichiro was ruled out.
Diaz throws out Ichiro
MIA@STL: Diaz nabs Ichiro after call overturned
Aledmys Diaz throws to first to retire Ichiro Suzuki after the Cardinals challenge and the call is overturned in the top of the 3rd
Ichiro got the starting nod in place of center fielder Marcell Ozuna, who was given a day off. Ozuna started in center for the National League in the All-Star Game presented by MasterCard at Petco Park in San Diego on Tuesday.
Manager Don Mattingly has said he will not force playing time for Ichiro in his chase to become the 30th player in MLB history to reach 3,000 hits.
But with a day game on Sunday, and the fact Ozuna competed in the All-Star Game, it was an opportunity to get Ichiro in the lineup.
Joe Frisaro has covered the Marlins for MLB.com since 2002. He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter @JoeFrisaro and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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