Mariners Log: Ichiro Suzuki homers in perhaps final at-bat in Safeco

The Seattle Mariners beat the Miami Marlins 10-5 on Wednesday at Safeco Field. That’s good for the Mariners, obviously, who raised their record to 7-9 after their disastrous 2-8 start to the season.

It’s also good since they now embark on an 11-day, 10-game road trip through the fair and scenic metropolises of Oakland, Detroit and Cleveland.

But perhaps best of all, it gave the Safeco faithful one last opportunity to toast one of their favorites.

Ichiro Suzuki was given an ovation each time he came to bat in the three-game series, knowing the 43-year-old veteran, now plying his trade in the National League, might not make it back this way again.

When he came to bat in the ninth inning with the Mariners holding a 10-4 lead, the ovation was once again heartfelt from what remained of the 27,147 crowd in attendance.

But no one expected what came next.

Mariners reliever Evan Marshall, looking to throw strikes and get ahead of the hitter, laid a 93 mph fastball pretty much right down the pipe.

Perhaps sensing a get-it-over fastball, Ichiro turned on it with every ounce on his lithe frame and deposited it in the first row of bleachers in right field, to the amazement and delight of everyone in attendance, and probably those watching along at home as well, regardless of which team they rooted for the rest of the day.

Ichiro became the oldest Marlin (43) to homer and oldest in MLB to homer since Julio Franco (48) in 2007.

What a tremendous performance by a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer in the city he made home for so long, and a tremendous ovation from the fans to whom he meant so much in most likely his final appearance before them.