Mariners' Ichiro vs. Royals

Mariners' Ichiro vs. Royals

SEATTLE, United States - Seattle Mariners right-fielder Ichiro Suzuki hits a homer, his 44th leadoff homer in the first inning in his combined career in Japan and the United States, in a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Safeco Field in Seattle on Sept. 8, 2011.

Mariners' Ichiro vs. Royals

Mariners' Ichiro vs. Royals

SEATTLE, United States - Seattle Mariners right-fielder Ichiro Suzuki hits a homer, his 44th leadoff homer in the first inning in his combined career in Japan and the United States, in a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Safeco Field in Seattle on Sept. 8, 2011.

Rhodes homers in Kintetsu win in Pacific League

Rhodes homers in Kintetsu win in Pacific League

TOKYO, Japan - Kintetsu outfielder Tuffy Rhodes belts his 44th homer of the season at Osaka Dome on Aug. 26 to regain a share of the lead in the Pacific League home run derby with the Seibu Lions' Alex Cabrera, and power the Kintetsu Buffaloes 7-2 over the Nippon Ham Fighters.

Matsunaka hits 'sayonara' homer as Daiei tops Seibu

Matsunaka hits 'sayonara' homer as Daiei tops Seibu

FUKUOKA, Japan - Nobuhiko Matsunaka blasts a two-run ''sayonara'' homer off closer Kiyoshi Toyoda in the bottom of the ninth inning at Fukuoka Dome on Aug. 25 to lift the Daiei Hawks to a 3-2 triumph over the Seibu Lions. Daiei starter Keizaburo Tanoue threw a shutout for 8-1/3 innings, but let his chance for a win slip away by giving up a two-run homer to Alex Cabrera -- the 44th homer of the season for the muscular Venezuelan -- in the top of the ninth.

Baseball: Angels vs. Astros

Baseball: Angels vs. Astros

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Houston Astros on Sept. 10, 2021, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, his major league-leading 44th homer of the season.

Baseball: Angels vs. Astros

Baseball: Angels vs. Astros

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Houston Astros on Sept. 10, 2021, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, his major league-leading 44th homer of the season.

Baseball: Angels vs. Astros

Baseball: Angels vs. Astros

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Houston Astros on Sept. 10, 2021, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, his major league-leading 44th homer of the season.

Baseball: Angels vs. Astros

Baseball: Angels vs. Astros

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Houston Astros on Sept. 10, 2021, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, his major league-leading 44th homer of the season.

Baseball: Angels vs. Astros

Baseball: Angels vs. Astros

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Houston Astros on Sept. 10, 2021, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, his major league-leading 44th homer of the season.

Matsunaka hits 'sayonara' homer as Daiei tops Seibu

Matsunaka hits 'sayonara' homer as Daiei tops Seibu

FUKUOKA, Japan - Nobuhiko Matsunaka blasts a two-run ''sayonara'' homer off closer Kiyoshi Toyoda in the bottom of the ninth inning at Fukuoka Dome on Aug. 25 to lift the Daiei Hawks to a 3-2 triumph over the Seibu Lions. Daiei starter Keizaburo Tanoue threw a shutout for 8-1/3 innings, but let his chance for a win slip away by giving up a two-run homer to Alex Cabrera -- the 44th homer of the season for the muscular Venezuelan -- in the top of the ninth.

Mariners' Ichiro vs. Royals

Mariners' Ichiro vs. Royals

SEATTLE, United States - Seattle Mariners right-fielder Ichiro Suzuki hits a homer, his 44th leadoff homer in the first inning in his combined career in Japan and the United States, in a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Safeco Field in Seattle on Sept. 8, 2011. (Kyodo)

Mariners' Ichiro vs. Royals

Mariners' Ichiro vs. Royals

SEATTLE, United States - Seattle Mariners right-fielder Ichiro Suzuki hits a homer, his 44th leadoff homer in the first inning in his combined career in Japan and the United States, in a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Safeco Field in Seattle on Sept. 8, 2011. (Kyodo)

Rhodes homers in Kintetsu win in Pacific League

Rhodes homers in Kintetsu win in Pacific League

TOKYO, Japan - Kintetsu outfielder Tuffy Rhodes belts his 44th homer of the season at Osaka Dome on Aug. 26 to regain a share of the lead in the Pacific League home run derby with the Seibu Lions' Alex Cabrera, and power the Kintetsu Buffaloes 7-2 over the Nippon Ham Fighters.