MLB Notebook: Cano on an elite career pace

In Major League history, 16 players have collected at least 1,624 hits through their first nine seasons. At the bottom portion of this list stands Stan Musial (1,624), Lloyd Waner (1,651) and Chuck Klein (1,651).

The numbers attained by these three Hall of Famers are not significant in and of themselves, but they do carry some relevance for Robinson Cano's career path. Through his first eight seasons, Cano averaged 182 hits a year; if that average is applied to his career hit total, he would finish the 2013 season -- his ninth Major League campaign -- with 1,641 hits.

With a third-inning single Thursday, Cano collected his 1,500th career hit. Cano also homered later in the game, giving him 558 extra-base hits and 2,459 total bases. All-time, Cano is the 52nd player to have reached 1,500 through his first nine seasons. Among the 52 players to have 1,500 hits through their first nine seasons, Cano's 558 extra-base hits are 18th most, and his 2,459 total bases are the 24th most. He is the fifth second baseman and fourth Yankees player to do it.

The other second basemen to have at least 1,500 hits through their first nine seasons were Billy Herman (1,540), Chuck Knoblauch (1,533), Roberto Alomar (1,522) and Red Schoendienst (1,513). Among this group of five (through their first nine seasons), Cano's current total bases and extra-base hits are the most. Cano also -- among this group of five -- has the most doubles, home runs and RBIs, the second-highest batting average and the highest slugging percentage and OPS, and the best OPS+.

The other Yankees players with at least 1,500 hits though their first nine Major League seasons were Joe DiMaggio (1,663), Earle Combs (1,577) and Derek Jeter (1,546). Among these four, Cano is second to DiMaggio in both total bases and extra-base hits through their first nine seasons.

Guthrie streaking
Kansas City's Jeremy Guthrie improved to 5-0, allowing two runs in six innings in a 6-2 victory over the Orioles.

With the win, Guthrie improved to 10-0 with a 2.21 ERA in his past 18 starts, a run that dates back to Aug. 8, 2012. The unbeaten streak -- the longest in Royals history -- is tied for the sixth longest in the Majors since the beginning of the 2004 season.

Happy birthday, Arcia
Twins outfielder Oswaldo Arcia -- celebrating his 22nd birthday -- homered and tripled and helped the Twins defeat the Red Sox, 5-3. Arcia was the 16th player since 1916 to homer and triple on his birthday, the first to do it since Nyjer Morgan in 2011 (when he turned 31), and the first to do it on his 22nd birthday since Buddy Lewis on Aug. 10, 1938 (no one on this list is younger than 22).

When Morgan did it on July 2, 2011, he was the second player to accomplish the feat in as many days. On July 1, Nelson Cruz celebrated his 31st birthday with a home run and a triple.

Arcia and the aforementioned Lewis are the only two members of the Senators/Twins franchise on the list. Other notable names among the full 16 include Lou Gehrig (when he turned 32), Rudy York (on his 24th birthday), George Brett (when he turned 29) and Carlos Beltran (when he turned 27).

Baxter walks off again
For the second time in the Mets' past three games, Mike Baxter hit a pinch-hit game-ending single on Thursday vs. the Pirates.

Baxter was the first player since Tyler Colvin in 2011 to have a pair of pinch-hit walk-off hits in a season. Colvin's two were separated by four months. The most recent player to have a pair in a tighter span than Baxter was the Astros' Rafael Ramirez, who had them in back-to-back games on Aug. 2-3, 1991. Both of Ramirez's hits -- a double and a single -- came against the Dodgers' John Candelaria.

Baxter is the first Mets player to have two in a season since Chris Woodward in 2005. The only Mets player to ever have three pinch-hit walk-off hits in a season was Chris Jones in 1995.

Reynolds, Kazmir lead Tribe past A's
Mark Reynolds doubled and hit his 11th home run of the season, helping the Indians to a 9-2 win over the Athletics.

With Reynolds' 11 homers coming in Cleveland's first 32 games, that total ties him with Albert Belle (1993), Paul Sorrento ('95) and Travis Hafner (2006) for the sixth most in team history. The players to hit more: Ken Keltner (13 in 1948), Belle (13 in '96), Rocky Colavito (12 in '59), Manny Ramirez (12 in '95) and David Justice (12 in '97).

The Indians hit three homers and collected three doubles in the win. They rank first in the Majors in home runs, second in extra-base hits, third in total bases, first in team OPS and second in runs per game.

Cleveland starter Scott Kazmir improved to 2-1, throwing six innings of five-hit, one-run ball. Kazmir fanned 10 and walked none, his first double-digit strikeout game with no walks since May 26, 2008.

Here and there
• D-backs southpaw Patrick Corbin (6 1/3 innings, one run) improved to 5-0 as Arizona defeated Philadelphia, 2-1. Corbin became the fourth pitcher in the past 20 seasons to open his year with at least seven straight outings of at least six innings and no more than two runs allowed. Ubaldo Jimenez, with 12 such starts to begin the 2010 seasons, was the only pitcher to have more than seven straight.

• Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 13th save in 13 opportunities this year. To begin a season, this streak is the second longest of Rivera's career. In 2008, he successfully converted his first 28 opportunities.

• Houston's Jose Altuve was 3-for-5, raising his hit total to 49. Those 49 hits -- which are the second most in the Majors -- are the second most for an Astros player through 35 team games, behind 52 from Derek Bell in 1998.