Soaked in beer, Ichiro Suzuki smiled after a long day.

Ichiro Suzuki acknowledges the cheers of fans after hitting an RBI-single for his 200th hit in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 13. KYODO PHOTO

After he reached 200 hits for the ninth straight season during the second game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 13, Ken Griffey Jr. picked up his slight teammate, slung him over his shoulder and carried him to the showers, where teammates awaited with a beer bath.

"To get to enjoy this with these teammates I have and especially that guy over there, makes me very joyful," Ichiro said.

Ichiro beat out an infield single to become the first player in major league history with at least 200 hits in nine straight seasons as the Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 5-0 to split a doubleheader after losing the opener 7-2.

He had been tied with Willie Keeler, who had eight consecutive 200-hit seasons from 1894 to 1901.

"I have finally put an end to the battle (to break Keeler's record). It's an unbelievable feeling to be free from such enormous pressure," Ichiro said after the game.

"I just reached 200 before going back to Seattle. If I hadn't missed those eight games in August (with a tight left calf), I could have hit my 200th in front of home fans earlier. I guess luck wasn't on my side this time," the 35-year-old said.

In his second at-bat of the nightcap, Ichiro hit a slow roller to shortstop Elvis Andrus, beating the throw for No. 200 and driving in a run for a 2-0 lead.

Ichiro, who went 1-for-5 in the second game, received a standing ovation from the sparse crowd, stepping off first base and doffing his batting helmet to thank the fans.