Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Ichiro Suzuki was more pleased with the timing of his clutch swing than securing another Seattle record.

Suzuki became the Mariners’ career hits leader with two infield bouncers Saturday night, including an RBI single in the ninth that plated the go-ahead run in a 5-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

“I wasn’t thinking about my base hit,” Suzuki said after signing his jersey and a pair of batting gloves to mark his milestone achievement. “I wanted that run. That’s what was more on my mind than the hit.”

On the 10th anniversary of his major league debut, Suzuki reached on an infield single in the third, then did it again with his record-breaking hit off Brian Fuentesthat drove in Jack Wilson and made it 3-2 Mariners.

Suzuki has 2,248 hits, one better than close friend Edgar Martinez’s previous club record.

“Today I broke his record [and] when you look at the numbers, that’s a fact,” Suzuki said. “But he’s a hero back in Seattle. He’s my hero as well. I played with Edgar for years and that’s something that’s important to me. That’s precious.”

Chris Ray (1-0) earned the win despite giving up the tying run, and Brandon League pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save.

Daric Barton had three hits for the A’s, who are off to an 0-2 start for just the second time in the last 13 years.

The Mariners nearly wasted a solid effort by starter Jason Vargas, who pitched five-hit ball into the seventh inning. But Jack Wilson and Milton Bradley had two hits apiece and Seattle’s franchise player came with another big play.

After tying Martinez’s record with his hit off Brett Anderson, Suzuki was retired in each of his next two at-bats before driving in Wilson with a grounder to first. Barton fielded the ball cleanly but had no chance to get Suzuki and instead threw wildly to home as Wilson scored.

“He’s a presence at the top of the lineup and if you can keep him off base it’s a lot better,” Anderson said of Suzuki. “But he has so many hits for a reason. He’s a big part of their offense.”

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