Just who was that guy sitting on the Seattle Mariners bench T.J. Yeldon Jersey , the odd fellow with the bushy mustache, shades and a hoodie?
Wait a second r11; it was Ichiro!
Now a team executive, Ichiro Suzuki donned a Bobby Valentine-style disguise and sneaked into the Seattle dugout Thursday to watch a bit of the action at Yankee Stadium.
Exactly as he hinted, in fact.
r1;He was perfect. I never would have known it was him,r1; Valentine texted to The Associated Press.
Officially, Suzuki isnr17;t allowed to be in the dugout during games under Major League Baseball rules. The 44-year-old outfielder with 3,089 career hits came off the Seattle roster in early May and moved into the teamr17;s front office as a special assistant to the chairman.
Suzuki has been taking part in pregame drills and batting practice in a role similar to a coach. But her17;s required to leave the bench when games begin, and thatr17;s when he takes his place in the clubhouse r11; usually, anyway.
This time, in a ballpark where he played for parts of three seasons, Suzuki got a much closer look.
AP photographer Bill Kostroun spotted Suzuki with his face nearly covered by a fake mustache, sunglasses and a gray hoodie drawn tight over his head during in the first inning as the Yankees hit a pair of two-run homers.
Suzuki sat in the middle of the dugout, in the back row, in his shorts and occasionally crouched down while the Yankees swung away. He was gone by the second inning of Seattler17;s 4-3 loss that completed a New York sweep.
The 10-time All-Star hasnr17;t officially retired, and therer17;s speculation the Japanese great might play when the Mariners open the 2019 season in Tokyo with a two-game series against Oakland.
This was Seattler17;s only trip to Yankee Stadium this year, and maybe Suzuki wanted a final look at the ballpark. Or perhaps he was just showing off his playful side.
On the day it was announced Suzuki was moving into his new position, he predicted this might happen.
r1;During the game I will be doing the same preparations Ir17;ve been doing the entire time. Nothing is going to change for me that I did as a player,r1; Suzuki said at the time. r1;But I canr17;t say for certain that maybe I wonr17;t put on a beard and glasses and be like Bobby Valentine and be in the dugout.r1;
In 1999, the excitable Valentine was ejected from a game he was managing for the New York Mets. He was tossed in the 12th inning Pernell McPhee Color Rush Jersey , but soon put on a fake mustache and sunglasses and returned to the dugout in disguise.
Valentine was later suspended for two games and fined $5,000.
The longtime manager liked Suzukir17;s creativity.
r1;One of the biggest honors of my life,r1; Valentine said. r1;I was going to send him a set, but he didnr17;t need it.r1;
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AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report.
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone would like to see Luis Severino start the All Star game for the American League.
He just wants someone else to take over in the second inning.
Severino pitched five innings to earn his major league-leading 14th win, Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge each hit solo home runs, and New York beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-5 Saturday.
Severino (14-2) won his fifth straight start, allowing three runs and five hits. Two of the hits off Severino were home runs, marking the first time this season that he has allowed more than one homer in a game. Severino has allowed three earned runs or less in 16 consecutive starts.
r1;Her17;s been everything you want an ace to be,r1; Boone said.
The All-Star rosters will be announced Sunday, although starting pitchers for each league wonr17;t be named until the day before the game.
r1;Ir17;d love to see him start, and go one inning,r1; Boone said.
Jonathan Holder, David Robertson, Dellin Betances each worked one inning and Aroldis Chapman got the first out of the ninth before leaving with a sore left knee, the same injury that has bothered him for several weeks.
r1;Just a little more discomfort than what I usually have been feeling,r1; Champman said through a translator.
With the Yankees ahead by four runs, Boone wasnr17;t about to take any chances.
r1;He said he was fine to continue but I just didnr17;t want to mess with it,r1; Boone said.
Chasen Shreve finished for New York, giving up a solo homer to Aledmys Diaz.
Gardner connected on left-hander J.A. Happr17;s first pitch of the game Russell Bodine Color Rush Jersey , the 14th leadoff homer of his career and first time her17;s gone deep on the opening pitch.
Judge piled on when he homered on Happr17;s fifth pitch, his 25th of the season.
r1;He does a good job of really painting the corners and mixing his pitches well,r1; Judge said of Happ.r1; We were able to capitalize on a couple that were out over the plate.r1;
Happ (10-5), a potential trade target for the Yankees, had a dreadful audition. He allowed six runs and four hits in 2 2-3 innings, his shortest start of the season.
r1;You never know whatr17;s speculation, whatr17;s truth, and what has any realistic chance,r1; Happ said of the trade rumours. r1;Ir17;m just trying to play and pitch and Ir17;m happy right here.r1;
Happ matched season-worsts by allowing seven runs and 10 hits in his previous outing, last Sunday against Detroit. Itr17;s the first time in Happr17;s career that he has allowed at least six earned runs in consecutive starts. Happ has lost back-to-back outings following a six-game winning streak.
Brandon Drury hit a two-run double in the first and Gardner hit a two-run triple in the fifth before scoring on catcher Luke Mailer17;s passed ball.
Torontor17;s Kevin Pillar hit a two-run homer in the second and Randal Grichuk added a solo shot in the fourth.
New York outfielder Aaron Hicks left after four innings because of a sore left hamstring. Clint Frazier came on to play left field in the bottom of the fifth, with Gardner moving from left to center.
Boone said Hicks will get the day off Sunday in the hopes that her17;ll be ready to return for Mondayr17;s doubleheader at Baltimore.
Home plate umpire Lance Barrett made two ejections, both in the third inning. Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia was ejected for arguing balls and strikes from the bench moments before Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was also tossed for arguing.
CATCH OF THE DAY
Torontor17;s Curtis Granderson made a sensational diving catch to retire Kyle Higashioka for the final out of the first.
WALK THIS WAY
The Yankees drew 10 walks, their highest total of 2018. It was the most issued in a single game by the Blue Jays this season.
TRAINERr17;S ROOM
Yankees: New York recalled Frazier from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre and designated RHP David Hale for assignment. Hale pitched 5 2-3 innings Friday in relief of RHP Sonny Gray. r30; C Gary Sanchez (right groin) caught RHP Masahiro Tanakar17;s pregame bullpen session and also took two rounds of batting practice. Boone said Sanchez could begin a minor league rehab assignment July 15. r30; Triple-A RHP Luis Cessa is expected to start the second game of Mondayr17;s doubleheader. Triple-A RHP Jonathan Loaisiga was a candidate for the start but has been ruled out because of a sore shoulder. Boone said Loaisiga had an MRI Friday and will visit New Yorkr17;s team doctor Monday.
Blue Jays: RHP Rhiner Cruz (right groin) left in the ninth inning. r30; RHP Preston Guilmet was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. Guilmet was designated for assignment Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Yankees RHP Domingo German (2-4, 5.37) faces Blue Jays LHP Ryan Borucki (0-1, 2.77) in Sundayr17;s series finale. German has failed to complete five innings in his past two starts. Borucki made his home debut against Detroit on Monday, allowing two runs and two hits in seven innings.
