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Wake Up Call: Fake Ichiro finally gets into a game for Mariners (video)

Aug 3, 2011, 9:00 AM EDT

fakeichiro

There’s a rather convincing Ichiro Suzuki impersonator who’s been hanging around Safeco Field for the past few games, signing autographs, chatting with fans and … wait, he’s actually in the game! But he shouldn’t be. When Seattle’s Dustin Ackley stroked one down the right-field line in the third on Tuesday, it looked like a sure triple — until fake Ichiro leaned out of the stands and interfered with the play, plucking the live ball off the field with his glove.

Video here.

Manager Eric Wedge said he didn’t notice the Ichiro imposter, but agreed with the umpires’ decision to give a triple Ackley, who was left stranded at third.

“I know the fans were getting on [the fake Ichiro] pretty good, because it looked like Dustin was going to get to third base,” Wedge said. “But ultimately, I think that he redeemed himself when the umpire awarded him third base. That’s a judgment call. I think he would have got to third base, and that’s what he thought, too.”

source:

Yep, after initially ruling it a ground-rule double, umpires gave Ackley third base (where he was stranded). I think A’s manager Bob Melvin had a point there, however. How is that not a ground-rule double? The Mariners went on to win, 4-2.

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