Kansas City, Mo. ? The home run Ichiro Suzuki hit to start the game paled in comparison to his great sliding catch that ended it.

In between, the Seattle right fielder reached base two more times and scored two more runs, leading the Mariners to a hard-fought 7-6 victory over a bunch of Kansas City Royals who could only stand and admire the nine-time All-Star.

“Ichiro is one of the elite players in the game,” said Royals bench coach John Gibbons, who managed in place of the absent Trey Hillman for the second straight game.

Trailing by a run, the Royals loaded the bases against closer David Aardsma with two outs in the ninth. Pinch-hitter John Buck lifted a high fly ball toward right field that looked like it would probably twist into the stands.

But Suzuki came flying in and went into a feet-first slide, skidding toward the wall and ending up in a spot that most people in the stadium, including both dugouts, could not see.

After about two seconds of aching suspense, he raised the ball high above his head while laying on his back, and the umpire signaled the game was over.

“Fantastic,” Seattle shortstop Jack Wilson said. “The concentration level, running that hard and knowing the wall is there, it’s a pretty awesome play.”