Series Preview: Mariners (0-0) at Athletics (0-0) in Japan

Photo by Masterpress/Getty ImagesBack in 2012, the Mariners began their season in Japan playing against the Athletics a few weeks before the true start of the regular season. The first game of that trip featured a 4-for-5 performance from Ichiro Suzuki, a home run off the bat of Dustin Ackley, and a brilliant outing by Félix Hernández. Fast forward seven years and Ichiro will likely be making his last start as a major leaguer during this trip, Dustin Ackley failed to capitalize on what might be his last opportunity to revive his career this spring, and Félix Hernandez won’t be making an opening day start for the first time since 2008. In many ways, this trip represents the close of one chapter in the franchise’s history and the beginning of a new one.

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