PEORIA [link=http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-tyler-thornburg-jersey]http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-dustin-pedroia-jersey[/link] , Ariz. (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki still felt the nerves of competition at age 45.Suzuki started what may be his final spring training with a two-run, two-out single in the third inning Friday of the Seattle Mariners‘ opening 8-1 win over the Oakland Athletics.Batting seventh and playing left field, Suzuki fouled out in the second inning against Liam Hendriks and singled in the third off left-hander Ryan Buchter. Suzuki then was replaced by a pinch runner. He did not have any chances in the field.“Of course you have nerves, but this was one I hadn’t experienced before, the nerves that I had today,” Suzuki said through an interpreter. “I’m just glad the first day’s out of the way.”The Cactus League opener [link=http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-jackie-bradley-jr-jersey]Jackie Bradley Jr Jersey[/link] , delayed a day by Thursday’s rainout, was between the teams that meet in the season’s opening series on March 20-21 in Tokyo.A 10-time All-Star who won the AL Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in 2001, Suzuki spent his first 12 major league seasons in Seattle, went on to play for the New York Yankees and Miami. then returned last season. He hit .205 in 44 at-bats before moving to a front-office role in early May.It long appeared Suzuki’s goal was to play in the opening series in Japan, where he won seven Pacific League batting titles with Orix. He had a .311 career average in the North American major leagues with 3,089 hits in 18 seasons. Rob Leiter/Getty ImagesHouston Astros star Jose Altuve appears to be having difficulty getting over the knee injury that has had him on the disabled list since July 29.Per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle [link=http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-roger-clemens-jersey]Roger Clemens Jersey[/link] , the reigning American League MVP flew back to Houston on Sunday to have his knee re-evaluated.Astros manager A.J. Hinch added that Altuve wouldn't be activated for the team's two-game series against the San Francisco Giants starting Monday."I think it feels like (a setback) only because we've eliminated San Francisco as a possibility," Hinch said. "I don't know that we can consider it a setback other than we can consider that he needs more time to heal."Injuries had never been much of a problem for the second baseman in his career, averaging 154.2 games played in his six full seasons in the majors. He only missed 22 total games in the past four seasons, earning four All-Star selections and an MVP award in this span.Unfortunately, he hasn't been as lucky in 2018, as a knee injury forced him to go on the disabled list for the first time in his career.The latest injury also adds to what has been somewhat of a disappointing year for the 28-year-old.While he is still playing at an All-Star level with a .329 average [link=http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-andrew-benintendi-jersey]Andrew Benintendi Jersey[/link] , his nine home runs and 14 stolen bases are a bit of a step back from what we have seen in the past. For instance, he hit 24 homers in each of the previous two seasons and stole 32 bases in 2017.Houston has enough depth and offensive firepower to survive a short stretch without Altuve, but it would be difficult for the team to defend its World Series title without its most consistent player.Utility player Marwin Gonzalez should be able to handle second base duties until the superstar is back on the field.