Ichiro finds ‘old-time religion’ with HR-robbing catch for Mariners

During Ken Griffey Jr.’s second and final tenure as a player with the Mariners, one of his home runs made for one of the more classic moments in team history complete with a call from legendary announcer Dave Niehaus referring to “old-time religion.”

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On Saturday afternoon, Ichiro had his own “old-time religion” moment.

In the third inning of the Mariners’ game against Cleveland, the 44-year-old Ichiro made a leap at the left-field wall and robbed Indians All-Star Jose Ramirez of a homer on a spectacular defensive play. The play brought the crowd to its feet and started a chant of “I-CHI-RO” that became plenty familiar at Safeco Field earlier this century.

As if that wasn’t enough, Ichiro followed up with an infield hit in the bottom of the inning and later scored on a Jean Segura single. He finished 2 for 4 at the plate in the 6-5 Mariners loss.

Ichiro returned to the Mariners in spring training after five-plus years playing with the Yankees and Marlins. And while the enigmatic one-time superstar last made an All-Star team in 2010, on that one play it felt as if pro baseball’s all-time hit king had never left Seattle in the first place.

Ichiro on return to Seattle: ‘The dreams I have, one of them came true’

I-CHI-RO! 👏I-CHI-RO! 👏I-CHI-RO! 👏 pic.twitter.com/AG34uOeAFU

— Mariners (@Mariners) March 31, 2018

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