Major League Baseball

Ichiro's walk-off single ends Mariners' 4-game skid

Published Jul. 29, 2009 8:53 a.m. ET

foxsports

His swing at the 0-1 pitch from Toronto reliever Scott Downs was a flailing mess, so out of character for the collected, methodical approach of Ichiro Suzuki that his teammates knew it had to be planned.

"That second pitch made him look horrible," Seattle closer David Aardsma said. "I turned to (Jason) Vargas and said, 'He's just setting him up right here, getting him to throw another curveball.' Then he did the patented Ichiro drop the bat swing and it fell in there perfect."

Whether it was a setup or not, only Suzuki knows. But Downs was baited into throwing the same pitch again and Suzuki delivered, adding a new accolade to his list of accomplishments.