Ichiro notches pinch-hit double for career hit No. 2,998

Ichiro Suzuki checked off one milestone en route to another on Thursday.

The Miami Marlins outfielder picked up a pinch-hit double in the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals to give him 350 career doubles. The hit had a little more meaning on a larger scale, however, as the two-base knock gave the future Hall of Famer 2,998 hits for his major-league career.

Suzuki has seen his quest to become the 30th player in MLB history to reach the 3,000-hit mark slowed this month as he's been used almost exclusively off the bench. He's gone 10-for-33 in July, coming on as a pinch-hitter in 15 of the 19 games.

The 42-year-old will get a crack at chasing down the record Friday at home against the Cardinals, as Don Mattingly said he'll start.

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)