ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Ichiro Suzuki went 5-for-5 to pull within 14 hits of equaling George Sisler's major league record of 257 as the Seattle Mariners overpowered the Anaheim Angels 7-3 on Tuesday night.
Ichiro singled in the first, second, sixth and eighth innings, and hit a double in the fourth to surpass his 2001 mark of 242 hits and now stands alone in ninth place on the all-time list for most hits.
With his explosive performance the four-time All-Star outfielder raised his average to .372 and retook the major league lead from San Francisco's Barry Bonds (.369).
Ichiro became the first player with four five-hit games in a season since San Diego's Tony Gwynn in 1993.
"I think it's hard for a player to think about records and understand how much it means while you're playing," Ichiro said. "After your career is over, then you can really enjoy the records and achievements."
He has 11 games left to break the mark set by Sisler with the 1920 St. Louis Browns.
"Ichiro's got maybe the best eye-hand coordination that I've seen from a guy with a bat in his hand," winning pitcher Jamie Moyer said following the victory.
"It's almost like a martial arts-type thing, where he gets into a zone and he finds a way to get on base," added teammate Scott Spiezio.