Miami Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki records 3,000th hit against Rockies at Coors Field

DENVER — Miami Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki recorded the 3,000th hit of his big league career against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Sunday.

Ichiro tripled to right against Rockies reliever Chris Rusin with one out in the seventh inning with Miami leading 8-6. He then scored on a single by Jeff Mathis. Ichiro was just the second player ever to record a triple for his 3,000th hit, the first being Paul Molitor.

It was Ichiro’s 14th hit all-time at Coors Field, where he has played just 17 games and is hitting .264/.264/.321 in his career.

“I don’t know if I’ve been in a game where a guy’s gotten to 3,000 hits,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said prior to Friday’s series opener. “That tells you something, 25 years in the league and I haven’t seen it done.”

The 42-year-old signed with the Seattle Mariners prior to the 2001 season after playing nine seasons with the Orix Blue Wave in his native Japan. Weiss said that he entered the league at 27 makes Ichiro’s 3,000 hits that much more impressive.

“It’s phenomenal, really,” Weiss said. “Coming over here when he did and getting 3,000 hits in a relatively short amount of time.”