TOKYO (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki started for the Seattle Mariners on Thursday in what the Japanese news agency Kyodo is reporting will be his final major league game.
The 45-year-old Ichiro fouled out his first time up and grounded out in his next at-bat against Oakland. Each time the crowd chanted "Ichiro, Ichiro" as camera flashes and iPhone flashes lit up the 45,000 sellout at the Tokyo Dome.
Kyodo didn't cite the source of its report.
Seattle manager Scott Servais had hinted that, after Ichiro started in a season-opening victory against the Athletics on Wednesday, he might not start the final game of the brief series that opened the Major League Baseball season.