SEATTLE – The father of Seattle Mariners star right fielder Ichiro Suzuki was robbed when he got a flat tire on a Seattle-area freeway on the day before Suzuki made his major-league debut.

Noboyuki Suzuki, in town from Japan, and three passengers were driving along Interstate 405 near Bellevue in the suburbs east of Seattle on April 1 when their rental van got a flat tire, KING-TV reported Monday.

The Washington State Patrol said a man and woman in a Lexus pulled over and offered assistance. But when they left, a bag was missing from the van. It contained $4,500 and the elder Suzuki's passport.

Patrol Trooper Monica Hunter said investigators have little to go on. The suspects are described as a man about 5-foot-8 with black hair and a mustache, and a woman in her 30s. The car is described only as a tan Lexus RX-300 with silver trim.

The Suzuki family has not talked about the incident, which was reported to the patrol by Suzuki's agent.

Ichiro Suzuki, a seven-time batting champion in Japan, is the first position player from Japan to win a spot in the American major leagues.

In the Mariners' first 19 games, he is hitting .361 as the leadoff hitter. He has 30 hits and 14 runs scored.

He also has the Mariners' rookie record for consecutive games with a hit, at 15 games.