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Anatomy of a Mariners record

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By Jim Street / MLB.com

06/02/09 3:15 AM ET

SEATTLE -- For the 11th time in his club-record-tying 25-game hitting streak, Ichiro Suzuki extended the streak during his first at-bat during Monday night's game against the Orioles.

The Mariners right fielder hit the second pitch he saw, a fastball from left-hander Rich Hill, into left-center field for a double -- and went to third on left fielder Nolan Reimold's error.

"I don't think I have pride toward the streak; I take pride in being out on the field," Ichiro said after the game.

The Mariners mark Ichiro equaled happened to be his own, which he set from May 7-31, 2007. He will have a chance to surpass it Tuesday night against the Orioles' David Hernandez.

Here are some facts to go with the streak:

• Starting with a hit in his first at-bat in the second game of this 25-gamer, Ichiro got a hit the first time up 11 times. Only twice during the streak -- games eight and 20 -- did he have to wait until his final at-bat to keep it going.

• The last time the 35-year-old went on a hitting binge like this, in May 2007, he batted .411 (44-for-107) with four doubles and two home runs. That string started when Ichiro went 1-for-3 against the Yankees at Safeco Field on May 7, and ended when he went 0-for-4 against the Rangers at Safeco Field on June 1.

• The current streak is the longest active streak in the Majors.

• Ichiro has 30 hitting streaks of 10 games or longer during his eight-plus seasons with the Mariners, including 16 that lasted at least 15 games. and seven that have lasted at least 20 games. The latter ties him with Hall of Famer George Sisler for the fourth-most 20-plus-game streaks in history. Willie Keeler, Ty Cobb and Pete Rose share the record with eight.

• Even having set a franchise record, Ichiro would need to stay hot for a few more days to stretch his streak to 30 games, which would be the 54th time that has happened. Nationals third  baseman Ryan Zimmerman is the latest to do it, earlier this season.

• Joe DiMaggio is the only player in Major League history to reach 50 straight games -- the Yankees Hall of Fame center fielder holds the record with a 56-game binge in 1941. Five other players have reached 40, three since 1901, the last being Rose's skein of 44 with the Reds in 1978, which happens to be the modern National League record.

Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. Tara Krieger contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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