Hideki Matsui celebrates Japanese Heritage Day with his 2,500th professional hit

By Joe Stiglich

jstiglich@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 04/03/2011 06:38:39 PM PDT
Updated: 04/03/2011 10:48:20 PM PDT

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Matsui hits milestone on Japanese Heritage Day

Japanese Heritage Day turned out to be a big hit at the Coliseum on Sunday, highlighted by Hideki Matsui's first official hit with the A's and the 2,500th of his professional career.

Matsui, hitless in seven at-bats in Oakland's first two games, led off the second inning with a double down the left-field line. Feeling frisky, he tagged up on Kurt Suzuki's subsequent fly out to right field but was gunned down by Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki at third.

Matsui admitted afterward he wanted to try something special for the crowd of 22,292, many of them Japanese fans who came out for the occasion.

"I know the strength of (Ichiro's) arm and usually I don't run in those situations," Matsui said through interpreter Roger Kahlon. "But knowing it was Japan Heritage Day, I took a chance, and unfortunately it didn't quite work out."

Manager Bob Geren thought it was a good aggressive play to make with one out.

"There aren't too many guys who would throw him out," Geren said. "Ichiro's one of the few who would, but even though he got behind the ball on the throw, he just got him by a couple of inches."

Even though a number of teammates lauded Matsui's 2,500th hit afterward, the veteran designated hitter wasn't terribly thrilled by it.

"I feel more relief just getting a hit as a member of the A's and getting our first win," he said. "I'm not focused on
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the combined 2,500 hits between the U.S. and Japan. I kind of feel the same way about the goal of 3,000 hits. I think I'd like to focus on one hit at a time and just see what happens."

The A's generated more than $65,000 for Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief through the Heritage Day event. The team donated $1 from every ticket sold, and amid other fundraising functions, raised more than $10,000 through a silent auction of game-worn jerseys by Matsui and Suzuki. Ichiro's netted $6,015 and Matsui's $4,555.

After hitting a single, triple and double earlier in the game, Coco Crisp admitted he was thinking cycle when he came to bat to lead off the eighth. He grounded out weakly to first base.

"I got a pitch up and I like pitches up, but I'm like Kit from 'A League Of Their Own' -- sometimes I get them and sometimes I don't," he said. "This was one where I didn't get it. But it definitely crosses your mind."

Mark Ellis has a 16-game hitting streak dating back to last season. He is hitting .387 (24-for-62) over that span.

Daric Barton dropped a foul pop in the first inning, his third error in three games. He made just 10 all last season, including three over his final 127 games