Suzuki records 10th straight 200-hit season

[September 24, 2010]  TORONTO (AP) -- Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki became the first player with 10 straight 200-hit seasons on Thursday, breaking his own record with a single to center in the fifth inning of the Mariners' game against the Blue Jays.

Suzuki, whose 200 hits are the most in the majors, closed in on the mark with a two-out double to left off Blue Jays right-hander Shawn Hill in the third.

He wasted no time in setting the record, lining a single up the middle on the first pitch he saw from Hill in the fifth.

His teammates came to the top step of the dugout to applaud and Suzuki tipped his cap as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Suzuki surpassed Willie Keeler with his ninth consecutive 200-hit season last year. Keeler's streak ran from 1894 to 1901.

Suzuki now has more 200-hit seasons than any player in AL history, breaking the record he shared with Detroit's Ty Cobb. Pete Rose is the only other player to record 10 seasons with 200 or more hits.

Suzuki has led the majors in hits in each of the past four seasons, and six times in his 10-year career.

He closed in on the mark with his first four-hit game of the season in Tuesday's series opener, then went 1 for 5 with a single Wednesday.

[Associated Press]

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