Mariners vs. Athletics
Dustin Ackley provided the pop and native son Ichiro Suzuki added the sizzle as the Seattle Mariners won their season opener with a 3-1 triumph in 11 innings over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. Technically the road team - although the crowd reaction at the Tokyo Dome on Wednesday said otherwise - the Mariners will vie for a series sweep of their American League West rivals on Thursday morning.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Jason Vargas (2011: 10-13, 4.25 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (2011: 8-10, 4.00 ERA)
Vargas is looking to build off a career year in the Pacific Northwest, but his team's lack of offense contributed to him winning just one of four decisions last season against the Athletics. The 29-year-old southpaw limited Oakland to a .225 batting average while recording a 1.11 WHIP.
Colon's task will be a tough one against Ichiro, who is batting .300 in his career against the 38-year-old hurler. The former Cy Young Award winner bounced back from a rare stem-cell procedure to fare well with the Yankees last season. Signed to a one-year deal, Colon will look to strengthen a rotation that saw the departures of Gio Gonzalez and Trevor Cahill.
WALK-OFFS
1. As expected, Ichiro was wildly cheered by the 44,000 in attendance - and he did not disappoint. Batting third in the lineup, the Japanese star went 4-for-5 to tie Ken Griffey Jr.'s team record for hits on Opening Day. Griffey accomplished the feat in 1990.
2. Prize offseason acquisition Yoenis Cespedes went 1-for-3 in his major-league debut. The Cuban defector showed a hint of his considerable power by ripping a double to center field in the seventh inning.
3. After Thursday's tilt, the Mariners will return to Cactus League action for five games before resuming the regular season against - you guessed it - the Athletics.