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Postgame: By avoiding a catch, Ichiro helps Mariners escape

The 10-time Gold Glove Award winner faced an interesting decision in the ninth inning.

September 21, 2011 at 11:41AM

Ichiro Suzuki made a nice catch in the first inning Tuesday night, sliding into the wall in right-field foul territory for the only out Mariners starter Jason Vargas recorded against the first four Twins batters.

Eight innings later, the Twins had the bases loaded, and Cuddyer hit another ball to that same general area. This time, Ichiro pulled up and didn't make the catch. Had he grabbed that ball, Ben Revere would have easily tagged up and scored the tying run from third base.

"He definitely let it drop, no question," Cuddyer said after the Twins' 5-4 loss. "He made a better play on the one in the first fining. It's his call, and obviously he made the right one."

Cuddyer was still kicking himself for striking out in that at-bat against Mariners closer Brandon League. It bothered Cuddyer that he chased so many pitches out of the strike zone. He figured League would throw him strikes, especially with the bases loaded. League has issued just 10 walks in 58 1/3 innings this year.

Ichiro told Japanese reporters he did indeed make a conscious decision not to catch Cuddyer's foul ball in the ninth. Ichiro went 1-for-5 and needs 24 more hits in the final eight Mariners games to reach 200 hits for the 11th consecutive year.

It's been an amazing streak, and even though Ichiro might not win a Gold Glove this year, he proved he still has some savvy on that play in the ninth.

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about the writer

about the writer

Joe Christensen

Sports team leader

Joe Christensen, a Minnesota Star Tribune sports team leader, graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent 15 years covering Major League Baseball, including stops at the Riverside Press-Enterprise and Baltimore Sun. He joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2005 and spent four years covering Gophers football.

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