Suzuki records 3,000th hit as Marlins outslug Rockies
DENVER -- Ichiro Suziki made history Sunday, collecting his 3,000th hit during his major-league career as the Miami Marlins roughed up Colorado Rockies starter Jon Gray and then held on for a 10-7 win in the rubber game of their series.
After three forgettable at-bats, Ichiro Suzuki tripled off the out-of-town scoreboard in right field to become the 30th major-league player to reach 3,000 hits. Suzuki's triple came against left-hander Chris Rusin.
Making his first start since July 29, Suzuki struck out on his first at-bat and grounded out on the next two. He was behind in the count on each at-bat before taking advantage of a 2-1 count by driving Rusin's 86 mph cutter off the scoreboard to become just the second player in major-league history to triple for hit No. 3,000. The other is Minnesota Twins star Paul Molitor, who tripled at Kansas City on Sept. 16, 1996.
Suzuki's teammates poured out of the third-base dugout to celebrate the moment. The Rockies' players stood and applauded at the dugout rail.
Suzuki had another plate appearance as he led off the ninth and drew a seven-pitch walk from left-hander Jake McGee. At 42 years, 290 days, Ichiro is the second-oldest player to reach 3,000 hits.
Christian Yelich and Jeff Mathis each had three hits and three RBIs for the Marlins. Nolan Arenado had three hits, including two home runs, and five RBIs for the Rockies.
The loss left the Rockies 3-3 on a homestand that ends with two games with Texas. The win enabled the Marlins to finish their road trip with a 2-4 mark.
Gray (8-5) left after yielding two-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton in the four-run fourth that boosted the Marlins' lead to 8-1. Gray, who had won his past three starts, allowed a career-high tying 10 hits and a season-high eight runs in 3 2/3 innings.
The Marlins jumped on Gray for four runs in the first on their way to building a seven-run lead. Yelich doubled home two runs after Dee Gordon and Martin Prado began the inning with singles. With two outs, Mathis doubled home two runs with Miami's fifth hit of the inning.
Gray stranded runners at the corners in the second and retired the side in order in the third before wading into more trouble in the fourth. Adeiny Hechavarria led off with a single. Gordon collected his second infield hit with one out and Prado drove both runners home with a double. Stanton hit his 24th home run on Gray's 82nd and last pitch.
Marlins starter Adam Conley ended both the first and second innings with double-play grounders. Charlie Blackmon singled home a run in the third, and the Rockies added two runs in the fourth.
Arenado led off the inning with a home run. Mark Reynolds and Gerardo Parra followed with singles that put runners on the corners. Cristhian Adames hit into a run-scoring fielder's choice as he avoided a double play by beating second baseman Gordon's throw to first.
Arenado belted a three-run homer in the fifth, his 29th of the season, trimming Miami's lead to 8-6. DJ LeMahieu led off with a walk. David Dahl extended his hitting streak to start his career to 13 games with a single and Arenado drove Conley's 1-1 fastball an estimated 456 feet to left-center, giving Arenado four multi-homer games this season and nine for his career.
Conley (8-6) left after the fifth, having allowed seven hits and six runs in five innings with four walks and two strikeouts. He got nine outs on ground balls but was unable to reach the sixth for the third straight start.
After his triple, Suzuki scored on Mathis' single. The Rockies answered with a run in their half of the seventh on Arenado's two-out double. Rockies pitcher Boone Logan's error in the eighth paved the way toward an unearned run that scored on Yelich's double to make it 10-7.
Fernando Rodney, the fifth Marlins' pitcher, worked the ninth to earn his 18th save this season and first with the Marlins.
NOTES: Rockies OF Gerardo Parra was reinstated and in the lineup for the first time since June 14 when he suffered a high-ankle sprain. ... Rockies RF Carlos Gonzalez was given a planned day off following a night game. He's also dealing a sore left ankle, which he sprained Wednesday. ... Rockies IF Rafael Ynoa was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. He had been recalled Tuesday when SS Trevor Story went on the disabled list with a thumb injury. Ynoa went 0-for-5 in three games. ... Marlins RHP Nefi Ogando was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans and LHP Hunter Cervenka was added to the roster after being acquired Saturday from Atlanta. Ogando did not record a decision with a 5.68 ERA in five games for the Marlins. ... Rockies CF Charlie Blackmon on Saturday became the first leadoff hitter in franchise history to have at least four RBIs and four hits, which included a triple and home run. The last leadoff hitter to do that was Philadelphia OF Shane Victorino on April 14, 2010.