TOKYO - Ichiro Suzuki looked perfectly at home, putting on the kind of show that made him so popular in Japan.
Too bad most fans across America couldn't follow along.
Suzuki got four hits and plenty of attention as the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 3-1 in 11 innings Wednesday night in the Major League Baseball opener.
A capacity crowd of 44,227 lit up the Tokyo Dome with camera flashes every time Suzuki came to bat. He drew a standing ovation when he took his position in right field in the final inning.
"It was very special to open in Japan," said Suzuki, a star for nine seasons in Osaka with the Orix Blue Wave. "I wanted to have fun and give the fans something at this special time and wanted to share a special moment with them."
"The festivities for opening day were awesome, the detail, the time they put into it. I loved every minute of it. I love being in Japan," he said.
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A lot of big leaguers arriving early at camp wanted to enjoy it, too, but couldn't.
The game began at 3:09 a.m. Tucson time and was televised live only to the Seattle and Oakland markets. The MLB Network showed it on tape delay at 6 a.m. - the game already was in extra innings when the nationwide telecast carried the first pitch.
"I got here at 5:15 in the morning and went in to turn on the game and couldn't find it anywhere," Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez complained in Kissimmee, Fla., where the Braves hosted the New York Yankees in an exhibition.
"I tried everything, MLB, ESPN, and I still don't know who won. I got here early to check it," he said.
In Tampa, Fla., Yankees manager Joe Girardi kept switching channels and seemed a bit frustrated he couldn't find the game on his clubhouse office TV. Hours later in Peoria, San Diego manager Bud Black and some of the Padres tuned in before their spring training game.
Asked whether he watched, Houston Astros closer Brett Myers turned sarcastic.
"Was there a game on?" he said.
Later in the day, the MLB Network changed its programming schedule for today's wrapup of the two-game series between the Mariners and A's. A live telecast was added at 2 a.m. Tucson time today to go with the previously planned replays, network spokeswoman Lorraine Fisher said.
Felix Hernandez combined with two relievers on a six-hitter as MLB opened its season in Tokyo for the fourth time. Dustin Ackley homered and singled in the go-ahead run in the 11th.
The continent switch didn't help the A's, who became the first team to lose eight straight openers since Philadelphia from 1985-92
