Ichiro continues to defy the odds

MIAMI — Manager Don Mattingly made out the Miami Marlins’ lineup unaware he was making Ichiro Suzuki the oldest player to start a game in centre field since at least 1900.

“He doesn’t play like that,” said Mattingly, who learned of the achievement after the game.

When the 43-year-old Suzuki started in Sunday’s 4-2 win over the Chicago Cubs, he surpassed the record held by Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who was a month younger when he started in centre in 2002 for the Boston Red Sox.

Suzuki went 0 for 4, dropping his average to .200, but reached on an error and scored in the first inning, and had four put-outs in centre. He has played in 63 games this season, mostly as a pinch hitter.

The Cubs wasted a fine pitching performance by Mike Montgomery, stranding 11 runners and allowing three unearned runs in losing to the Marlins.

Chicago also lost shortstop Addison Russell, who departed in the fourth inning. He complained of a sharp pinching pain in his throwing shoulder, which has bothered him at times the past two seasons. Russell is expected to miss at least one game and perhaps more.

The Marlins scored three unearned runs in the first after Suzuki reached when Russell bobbled his grounder for an error. “The first play of the game was indicative — an awkward spin on the ball, I understand that,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon, said.

Edinson Volquez (4-8) gave up five hits and five walks in five innings, but stranded eight runners and departed with a 3-2 lead.

Giancarlo Stanton hit his 20th homer for Miami, a solo shot off reliever Pedro Strop in the seventh.

Montgomery (1-4), making his fourth start of the year, settled down after the rocky first to pitch six innings. He allowed three runs, none earned, and his ERA fell to 2.03.

Volquez improved to 8-0 in 13 games against the Cubs, the best record against them among active pitchers.

He said he didn’t know until afterward he was undefeated against them.

A.J. Ramos retired all four batters he faced for his 12th save. The Marlins have scored 12 runs on 21 hits in their past five games, but won three.

The Marlins’ Martin Prado, playing his third game after a long stint on the disabled list, hit a two-run double in the first for his first RBIs since May 5.

Volquez walked the bases loaded in the second, but escaped when Anthony Rizzo popped out to end the inning. In the fourth inning Rizzo delivered a sacrifice fly, but Kris Bryant then struck out on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning and strand two more runners.

Miami and Chicago split the fourgame series.