NEW YORK - The chants of "Ich-i-ro" swelled in the eighth inning as the wiry batter with the slashing swing walked to home plate. With six hits already in this doubleheader, fans expected something special from the Japanese star.
Surprising even himself, Ichiro Suzuki delivered.
Suzuki had a go-ahead single in the eighth inning to help the New York Yankees complete a doubleheader sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 2-1 win Wednesday night that ensured New York remained atop the AL East.
The 10-time all-star's performance helped New York win its fourth straight and guaranteed it at least a half-game division lead, pending on the outcome of Baltimore's game against Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners.
"I haven't done anything different today so I don't know what the difference was," Suzuki said through a translator.
The 38-year-old Suzuki made a difficult catch with the bases loaded in the eighth inning of the opener to preserve a lead for Andy Pettitte in a 4-2 victory. He went 7-for-8 in the two games and stole four of New York's seven bases in the finale. "I came in the middle of the season and I always wanted to contribute, wanted to help in this pennant race and today is a great day that I was able to help," said Suzuki, who was acquired in a trade from Seattle in late July. "I'm very sad the day is over."
He had three hits in the opener batting leadoff in place of Derek Jeter, who rested his sore ankle in the first game of the day-night doubleheader. Jeter started at shortstop for the first time in a week in the nightcap and got his 200th hit on Ricky Romero's first pitch.
The single to centre tied Jeter with Lou Gehrig for most 200-hit seasons for New York with eight.
Feeling nervous and out of sync at shortstop after the long layoff, Jeter was most impressed with Suzuki's day.
"That's tough to do," Jeter said. "Doubleheader. I don't think I've ever done that in a doubleheader. I've been on the other side of it maybe an 0 for 8."
Rafael Soriano closed both games, notching his 41st and 42nd saves.
The Blue Jays, playing their first doubleheader against the Yankees since 1986, were without shortstop Yunel Escobar, who began a three-game suspension for wearing eye black displaying an antigay slur written in Spanish during a game last weekend against Boston.
Toronto dropped to 66-81, guaranteeing it will not have a winning record.
With the score 1-all, Curtis Granderson was walked by Steve Delabar (4-3) to open the eighth. He moved up on Jayson Nix's sacrifice and stole third. With two outs, Suzuki guided an opposite field hit to left for the lead. Suzuki stole two bases in the inning.
Cody Eppley (1-2) got one out for his first win since April 27, 2011, for Texas against Toronto.
David Phelps followed Pettitte's sparkling fiveinning return to the mound from a broken lower left leg by pitching into the seventh. He gave up one run and three hits.
Romero remained tied for the Blue Jays record with 13 straight losses and walked five to up his ALleading total to 99. It was his third game in which he allowed one run and didn't win - two no-decisions.
BREWERS 3, PIRATES 1
PITTSBURGH - Marco Estrada pitched seven scoreless innings and rookie shortstop Jean Segura hit a double and triple as the surging Milwaukee Brewers stayed in contention for a post-season berth with a 3-1 victory over the fading Pittsburgh Pirates.
Estrada (4-6) allowed three hits and retired the last 10 batters he faced in improving to 4-1 with a 1.23 ERA in his last six starts.
Milwaukee has won four straight games, seven of eight and 22 of 28. They remain 2 1 /2 games behind St. Louis in the race for the second NL wild card.
