Soriano, Suzuki achieve milestones

There's a new member of the 40-40 club: Alfonso Soriano.

Soriano became the fourth player in major league history to record 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season when he swiped second Saturday night for Washington in the first inning against Milwaukee.

That gave Soriano 40 steals to go along with 45 home runs.

Jose Canseco (Oakland 1988), Barry Bonds (San Francisco 1996) and Alex Rodriguez (Seattle 1998) are the only other players who have topped 40 in each of those categories in a single season.

Soriano came close in 2002, when he stole 41 bases and hit 39 home runs.

Meanwhile, in Kansas City, Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki stole his American League single-season record 33rd consecutive base in the third inning of Seattle's game.

Suzuki also singled in his first two at-bats to extend his own major league record for consecutive 200-hit seasons to begin a career to six.

The major league record for consecutive 200-hit seasons is eight by Willie Keeler between 1894 and 1901. Wade Boggs (1983 through 1989) holds the American League record with seven straight.