Griffey hits 400th homer with team; Ichiro debuts with slam
By Jim Street / MLB.com
SEATTLE -- The only worry right fielder Ichiro Suzuki said he had going into his regular-season debut on Wednesday night was that if the Mariners lost the game, it would be bigger news than just about anything else that occurred at Safeco Field.
He can relax.
The Mariners had their eight-time All-Star in the lineup for the first time this season and the momentum built during his eight-game absence continued unabated as Seattle used power, pitching and stellar defense for an 11-3 victory over the Angels before 18,516.
It was the Mariners' sixth straight win, and their 7-2 record matches the best start in franchise history. The 2001 team had the same record after nine games.
This was a night of milestone moments:
Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 400th career home run in a Mariners uniform, a solo shot in the fifth inning.
Left-hander Jarrod Washburn had a sore throat but pitched six innings and won his 100th career game.
And Ichiro matched the record for most hits by a Japanese player with a grand slam in a seven-run seventh inning, his 3,085th professional hit.
The home run matched the Japan record held since 1981 by Isao Harimoto, who traveled from Japan to watch Ichiro reach the record.
"I definitely didn't think grand slam, but a lot of times when I have records on the line, I have had a tendency to hit home runs in those situations," Ichiro said. "So it crossed my mind that it might happen, but a grand slam? That barely happens in any situation, so that did not cross my mind."
But the way the Mariners are playing so far this season, anything is possible.
"These guys are starting to believe in what they can do," manager Don Wakamatsu said.
The Mariners unleashed a 15-hit attack against five Angels pitchers, starting with right-hander Jered Weaver, and three of the four pitchers Wakamatsu used in the middle game of the three-game series were solid.
Washburn improved to 2-0, allowing just four hits and two runs, with no walks and four strikeouts.
Right-handed reliever Miguel Batista struggled again, as all three batters he faced in the seventh inning reached base, slicing a two-run Mariners lead in half.
But rookie right-hander Shawn Kelley replaced Batista, retired the side with no further damage, striking out the final two batters.
"When Kelley came in there and pitched out of that jam, it was the turning point in the ballgame and another big step for our bullpen," Wakamatsu said.
The fastball that Kelley fired past Angels leadoff batter Chone Figgins for the final out was past the hitter before he swung.
"He acted like a veteran out there," catcher Rob Johnson said of the 22-year-old, who was pitching at the Class A level at this time a year ago. "He really trusts his stuff. He has a good slider, but his fastball was coming in nice tonight. Man, he was calm out there, but had a look in his eye that he was ready to go.
"He was painting the corner away. That strikeout of Figgins was down and away. I didn't even move. I just caught the ball. It was amazing."
The Mariners made it a rout with their seven-run seventh inning, which was capped by Ichiro's grand slam, putting an exclamation point on his return to the lineup.
He had been on the 15-day disabled list because of severe fatigue caused by a bleeding ulcer.
"He just added to what we have," Griffey said. "Anytime you can get a guy of his caliber who has been out for a week or so, it just helps us to add momentum."
The Mariners were glad to have Ichiro back, and he said he felt no pressure to fit right in.
"I didn't think I had to do anything special today, especially because the team made it easy for me to come back and play with everybody," he said. "I am thankful for that, but also today, I felt that if the team didn't win tonight when I got back, all of you guys would write about that. So I am glad that is not going to happen."
His 74th Major League home run coincided with Griffey's 613th.
"For me, to hit a home run on the same day Junior hit an historical home run for him is special for me," Ichiro said. "But not only that was special, but probably the two lightest guys in baseball hit home runs together -- me and Endy Chavez. That is very special to me as well."
Chavez, who weighs 170 pounds, preceded Griffey's home run with a solo shot to right field off Weaver. Ichiro is listed at 172 pounds in the Mariners media guide.
Griffey's milestone home run led to him taking a curtain call during the game -- and kissing his 15-year-old son, Trey, after the game in the dugout.
"They put him up to it," Griffey said. "It was one of those things where the guys were teasing him. It wasn't his fault. He told me I scarred him for life and we had to discuss some things when we get home."
On a downer note, catcher Kenji Johjima had to leave the game in the fourth inning with a tight right hamstring. He will be re-examined on Thursday.
-- Edited by The Krink on Thursday 16th of April 2009 12:54:46 AM
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