The Associated Press
Ichiro robs Jeff Kent of a homer in the fourth inning.

Ichiro's catch makes up for 'slump'

KIRBY ARNOLD, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published July 15

SEATTLE -- Ichiro Suzuki has reached above the wall to pull back other home run balls, but no catch may have been as difficult, or important, as the one he made in the fourth inning Saturday.

The Mariners led 3-1 when Jeff Kent launched a drive directly over Suzuki's head in right field.

Suzuki raced to the wall, turned once as the ball twisted toward center field and somehow leaped high enough to catch it before it went over.

"It was tough to see out there today and it turned him around a couple of times," center fielder Mike Cameron said.

As usual, Suzuki downplayed it.

"That's the best I could do," he said. "A fly ball hit right at me is the most difficult."

Then he was asked if it was a certain home run that he took away.

"No. I was going to catch the ball," Suzuki said.

Suzuki hit a sacrifice fly, drew two walks, stole a base and scored a run Saturday, but his 0-for-1 outing at the plate left him hitless in his last eight at-bats, a season high.

He has gone 0-for-7 twice this season.

Still, Suzuki was productive on offense.

Suzuki stole his 30th base of the season and Kazuhiro Sasaki recorded his 30th save Saturday, a 1-2 punch from the Mariners' Japanese contingent that has fueled the team's success since opening day.

"We've asked Ichiro to run and he's run, and with Sasaki in the closer's role he's gotten it done," Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. "Let's hope that they get another 20 apiece. I'll be very happy."

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