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Ichiro Suzuki connects on an RBI single in the third inning on Thursday. (Ben Margot/AP)

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That became a certainty Thursday afternoon at Network Associates Coliseum, where Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki had one hit -- a single in the third inning -- in five at-bats, leaving him one hit shy of George Sisler's record 257-hit season in 1920.

"Save it for the hometown folk," manager Bob Melvin said. "In a way, that's good, but in a way, I'm sure [Ichiro] would like to have gotten it out of the way. I'm sure the fans in Seattle are going to be excited about him coming home."

While Ichiro goes for the record in Seattle, the Athletics and Angels will fight it out for the American League West championship. With the Athletics beating the Mariners, 3-2, on Bobby Crosby's solo home run in the ninth inning off Scott Atchison, and the Angels losing to the Rangers, the top two teams in the West are tied with three games remaining.

"It shapes up to be a very emotional weekend in Seattle, which is good," Melvin said.

The odds of breaking Sisler's 84-year-old record definitely are on the outfielder's side.

The Mariners have three games remaining -- at home against the Rangers -- and Ichiro's longest hitless drought this season has been two games.

This will also be the series that Mariners fans say farewell to designated hitter Edgar Martinez, who is retiring after Sunday's regular-season finale. He will be honored the entire weekend, but especially on Saturday, which has been dubbed "Edgar Martinez Night."

But on Friday night, all eyes at Safeco Field will be on Ichiro.

"In a way, it really is good to be going home and giving him a chance to [break the record] at home," Melvin said. "It probably seems fitting that he does it at home, and the fans will be out in force."

Ichiro had a quiet day on the field, and in the clubhouse afterwards.

He wouldn't talk about the record that he's chasing and how he feels about having a chance to break it at home.

"I want to finish the season strong and not have any regrets," he said.

The final road game of the season wasn't a total washout. Ichiro actually tied one longstanding MLB record in Thursday's game. His hit was the 918th of his four-year career with the Mariners, matching Bill Terry's record for the most hits over any four-year period. Terry had 918 hits for the New York Giants from 1929-32.

The Mariners had nine hits while the A's had just five, but they couldn't muster the key hits. Seattle loaded the bases in the sixth inning, but pinch-hitter Jeremy Reed fouled out on a 2-and-0 pitch from Ricardo Rincon.

"He got a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it, but just popped it up," Melvin said.

That was the last chance the Mariners had to get right-hander Ryan Franklin his fifth win of the season. Instead, all he got out of pitching a three-hitter over seven innings was a no-decision.

"Frankie threw the ball well and gave us what we wanted," Melvin said, "and once again, we didn't give him much run support."

Franklin retired the first two batters in the third inning and seemingly had his third straight 1-2-3 inning when Adam Melhuse hit a grounder to first baseman Willie Bloomquist.

But the versatile Mariners reserve bobbled the ball for an error, and Mark Kotsay followed with a run-scoring double to left-center field. The Mariners worked a perfect relay play, but Melhuse slid home and barely beat shortstop Jose Lopez's throw.

That erased the one-run lead that Seattle had presented Franklin with in the top of the inning, when Miguel Olivo doubled with one out and scored on Ichiro's solid single to right field.

The third ended abruptly when Winn bounced into a double play.

Jermaine Dye put Oakland in front, 2-1, in the fourth with a two-out home run to left-center, his 23rd of the season.

"It was a fastball on the inside corner," Franklin said. "I threw it where I wanted to. I have gotten him a lot, so what goes around comes around. He did a good job. He's a good hitter and a good guy. I like him, so I don't feel as bad as I would if someone I didn't like did that."

Franklin ended the season with a 4-16 record and a 4.90 ERA. He held opponents to two or fewer runs in 11 of his 32 starts and pitched over 20 innings for the second consecutive season.

Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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