For Marlins, wins outweigh milestones

DENVER — The celebration on Sunday afternoon was for Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki becoming the 30th player in Major League history to collect 3,000 hits.

But despite all the international attention the hit attracted, for Ichiro and the rest of the Marlins, it was just another stop in a journey that began last February in Jupiter, Fla., with new manager Don Mattingly making his introductory speech, a journey that the Marlins are beginning to think could end with an invite to MLB’s postseason party come October.

With a 10-7 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field on Sunday, punctuated by Suzuki’s milestone triple in the seventh, the Marlins rebounded from being swept by the Cubs at Wrigley Field last week to take two out of three from a Rockies team that had boasted baseball’s best record since the All-Star break and regain a one-game edge on the Cardinals in the battle for the second National League Wild Card spot.

• Ichiro triples to reach 3,000-hit milestone • DYK: Ichiro joins 3,000-hit club • Ichiro congratulated by 3,000-hit club members • Ringo: Ichiro’s road to 3,000 paved in Emerald City • Aug. 7 a big day on milestone calendar • Ichiro means everything to Ichi-meter lady • Celebrate Ichiro’s 3,000th hit with 13 great photos • Mariners congratulate Ichiro • Ichi-Rose: Combo batter expands hit story • Ichiro’s player page • Rare feats: 3,000 hits club • Shop for Ichiro merchandiseSights & soundsIchiro’s 3,000th MLB hitRadio calls Ichiro’s 3,000th hitIchiro discusses milestoneA look at the 3,000-hit clubIchiro reaches milestoneIchiro’s historic hit No. 4,257Ichiro highlights

Big deal?

Real big for the Marlins.

This is a team that has had six consecutive losing seasons. The Marlins lost 90 or more games four times, including 91 last season and 100 in 2013, and shares, with the Mariners, the …

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