Suzuki’s Homer Paces the Mariners

Ichiro Suzuki, better known for slapping singles to all parts of the field, pulled a pitch into the right-field stands for a tiebreaking homer and the Seattle Mariners went on to a 4-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday night at Arlington, Texas.

“If I don’t try to hit a home run, I don’t think I can hit a ball that far,� Suzuki, through an interpreter, said of his eighth-inning homer. “I was thinking about that. It was in the zone I was looking for.�

Nine of Suzuki’s 39 career homers have come against the Rangers. Gil Meche (2-1) pitched 7 2/3 innings and gave up only four hits.

Detroit 3, Cleveland 2 -- Mike Maroth held the Indians to four hits at Cleveland in leading the Tigers to their fourth consecutive win.

Maroth (2-1) gave up solo homers to Casey Blake and Jhonny Peralta in the fifth inning, but the left-hander had few other issues with the majors’ worst-hitting team. Troy Percival worked the ninth for his second save.

Minnesota 6, Kansas City 5 -- Lew Ford singled home the go-ahead run off Mike Wood in the 11th inning, completing the first 0-6 homestand in Royals’ history.

Toronto 7, Tampa Bay 4 -- Gregg Zaun hit a three-run homer in a five-run sixth inning, and the Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the Devil Rays at Toronto.