HIDEKI MATSUI WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES IN 2004
AL Championship Series:vs Boston Red Sox
Oct 20
This was going to be the last game for both teams as it'll determine who gets to go to the World Series. The Red Sox's Jonny Damon grand slammed in the 2nd inning. He had another 2-run homer later. Matsui, meanwhile had 2 base hit off Pedro Martinez with which he recorded 2 RBIs. He singled in the 9th inning, but it didn't lead to any positive result. The Yankees lost 3 to 10. For the team and Matsui, the 2004 season has come to a close. The Red Sox advanced to the World Series for the first time in 18 years.

Oct 19
It was an amazing game with many unheard of events taking place. Red Sox's Mark Bellhorn who hit the ball off to left field was initially called a ground-rule double. It was later changed to a home run--a 3 run. In the 7th, the Yankees Bernie Williams singled a home run. Red Sox started Curt Schilling pitched while blood was seeping through his socks. In the 8th inning an unheard of play. A-Rod hit he ball raced toward first base, and Bronson Arroyo who took over from Schilling, tried to tag him. But A-Rod slapped the ball. It was called an interference. Matsui failed to have a hit this time. The Yankees lost 2 to 4 to go into game 7.

Oct 18
In the 3rd inning, Matsui singled. But no runs followed. In the 6th, it was big moment with bases loaded. But Matsui could not hit runners home. The game again was extended. The Red Sox David Ortiz's hit finished the game in the 14th inning. The Yankees lost 4 to 5.

Oct 17
Matsui was up and running again in this game. In the 2nd inning he had a 2 base hit. He tried to come home too, but was touched out at home base. In the 6th inning, he performed a good base run, making it to 3rd base. He then game home on Bernie Williams'base hit to tie the game. That same inning the Yankees took the lead. But the Red Sox attacked Mariano Rivera and equalized. The game went into extra innings. In the 12th inning, the Red Sox clinched the game on David Ortiz's 2 run homer, 6 to 4, to keep the Yankees achieving a sweep.

Oct 16
Game 3 was postponed due to rain. The Yankees exploded in this game. In the first inning, Matsui blasted a 2 run home run. He had a 2 base hit twice after that. In the 7th inning, he singled. In the 9th, he homered again. In all Matsui batted in 5 runs. The Yankees won 19 to 8 over the Red Sox.

Oct 13
After Gary Sheffield hit in a run in the fist inning, Matsui struck out. In the 7th inning, he had a hit. But it did not lead to a run. But all in all, the Yankees beat the Red Sox again. It's 3 to 1.

Oct 12
In the first inning, Matsui doubled. In the 3rd inning with bases loaded he doubled again. All runners came home. In the 6th inning, he had an RBI hit. He tied the ALCS record with 5 RBIs. The Yankees managed to clinch the game 10 to 7.

Division Series:vs Minnesota Twins
Oct 9
In the 3rd inning, with a runner on 2nd, Matsui slapped a base hit. And with that, the Yankees equalized. The game went into extra innings. The Yankees clinched the game 6 to 5 in the 11th inning, and the Division Series.

Oct 8
Matsui fumbled the ball in the 6th inning but managed to get Torii Hunter out on the 3rd base. That same inning, Matsui got on first base and came home on Bernie Williams' home run. In the 7th, Matsui himself homered. But it was a lucky one. Torii hunter caught the ball for a second, but dropped it into the stands. In the 9th inning too, Matsui had a base hit. The Yankees won the game 8 to 4.

Oct 6
A very competitive game was played. Matsui was walked in the first inning. In the 3rd inning he hit to the right, but did not lead to a run. The game went into extra innings. In the 12th inning, the Twins hit in a run. The Yankees caught up on A-Rod's RBI. Then with bases loaded Matsui popped a sacrifice fly to end the game 7 to 6.

Oct 5
The series opened in NY on Oct 5, Matsui singled in the 2nd inning. He doubled in the 4th. But in neither innings did his hit lead to a run. The Yankees lost to the Twins 0 to 2.

Oct 3
It's the last game of the regular season. Matsui,in the first inning doubled. But that was all. He finished the season with a batting average of .298. Just short of his aim of .300. The Yankees won the game 3 to 2 over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Sept 30
In the 7th inning, Matsui hit a home run to help his team catch up with the Minnesota Twins. In the 9th, he was walked. And Bernie William homered. The Yankees clinched the game 6 to 4. And at the same time the Yankees became American League East Division champion.

Sept 29
The Yankees played a double header. And the delight for Japanese fans was, Matsui blasted a homer in both games. In the first game, he doubled in the 2nd inning, and had a homer in the 7th to pave the way for the Yankees victory of 5 to 3 over the Cincinnatti Reds. In the 2nd game, in the first inning, Matsui homered his 30th of the season. The Yankees won again 5 to 4.

Sept 25
Matsui hit another home run. This time, it was off, Boston Red Sox's Tim Wakefield. But the Yankees lost 5 to 12.

Sept 24
Matsui had a base it in the 3rd inning. In the 8th, he blasted a game tying homer off Pedro Martinez. In the 9th, he hit home a runner with a 2 base hit. He helped the team win 6 to 4 over the Boston Red Sox.

Sept 23
Matsui was lucky in the 2nd and 4th innings. The ball he batted was erred by the Tampa Bay DevilRays. But he also had a proper base hit. The Yankees won 7 to 3 and qualified to the playoffs.

Sept 21
In the 6th inning, Matsui hit a hit to center. In the 8th, he hit to the left. He helped the Yankees win 5 to 3 to the Toronto BlueJays.

Sept 19
Matsui was busily attending to the company of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The premier went on the mound to make the ceremonious pitch, and Matsui caught the ball. In the game, in the 3rd inning, Matsui had a base hit. The Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 11 to 1.

Sept 18
Matsui was up and running. He had a base hit in the first inning. In the 2nd inning, with runners on first and third he hit home one. In the 8th inning, he got himself on base. The Yankees overwhelmed the Boston Red Sox 14 to 4.

Sept 13
During his first at bat, Matsui slammed a big double. He also contributed with a sacrifice fly, but the Yankees lost to the Kansas City Royals 8 to 17.

Sept 12
Following a no-hit game for Matsui the previous day, this time, he had 2 hits, including a home run, his 26th this season. The Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 9 to 7.

Sept 10
Matsui has 2 hits but the Yankees lost to the Baltimore Orioltes 8 to 14.

Sept 9
Matsui played a double header. In the first game he had an RBI hit. His team won 9 to 1 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In the 2nd game, Matsui had 2 hits. The Yankees won again 10 to 5.

Sept 7
Matsui at last had a hit. And it wasn't only one hit. He started in the first inning with a 2 run RBI. He hit himself on base also in the 3rd and in the 7th. His team beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 11 to 2.

Sept 2
Matsui had just one hit. He was prevented from hitting by another Japanese Kazuhito Tadano of the Cleveland Indians. But his team won 9 to 1.

Aug 31
Matsui doubled in the 5th inning. But it really did not matter in this game. That's because the Yankees faced a devastating defeat of 0 to 22 against the Cleveland Indians.

Aug 29
Matsui had 3 base hits. But he could not hit in the relevant 9th inning when there were 2 runners on base. The Yankees lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 4 to 6.

Aug 28
In the 4th inning, with a runner on 2nd, Matsui hit him home. In the 9th inning, he walked with the bases loaded to earn an RBI again. That inning, he was at bat again and got a base hit. The Yankees beat the Toronto BlueJays 8 to 6.

Aug 27
Matsui had been playing quietly, but this time, he blasted. It was in the 2nd inning he slammed his 25th home run. He had another hit. His team beat the Toronto BlueJays 8 to 7.

August 15
Matsui did not have a base hit at all the previous day. This time, he had 2 hits, including a home run. But the Yankees lost 3 to 7.

August 13
The Yankees faced the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Matsui had only one base hit, but he got on base twice, and both times came home. The Yankees overwhelmed 11 to 3.

August 9
It was in the 9th inning, Matsui slammed a 2 run home run. However, it was not enough to catch up with the Toronto BlueJays. The Yankees lost 4 to 5.

August 8
Matsui had 2 hits. An important one was in the 1st inning. He was one of the batters who loaded the bases to pave the way for Bernie William's grand slam. The Yankees beat the Toronto BlueJays 8 to 2.

August 7
Matsui's infield hit in the 7th inning help his team score a run. The Yankees won 6 to 0 against the Toronto BlueJays.

August 6
Matsui was a big contributor to this game. In the bottom of the first inning, he helped the team catch up with the Toronto BlueJays with a 3-run home run. In the 3rd inning, he homered again. His turn to bat came again the same inning with the bases full, and this time he hit in 2 runs The Yankees won 11 to 4.

August 5
In the 2nd inning, Matsu got himself on base. It paved the way for the Yankees first RBI. He also had a hit in the 7th inning. The Yankees won 5 to 1 against the Oakland Athletics.

August 4
Matsui had a 2 base hit, and slammed his 20th home run. His team in the 11th inning, clinched the game from the Oakland Athletics 8 to 6 on Alex Rodriguez's home run.

August 1
Matsui had 2 hits. With bases loaded in the 4th inning, Matsui smacked the first pitch and drove in 2 runners home. That paved the way to the Yankees defeating the Baltimore Orioles 9 to 7.

July 31
In the 3rd inning. on his base hit Alex Rodriguez advanced to 3rd base. In the 5th he had a base hit. That inning, he caught a difficult fly to the left and contributed. The Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 6 to 4.

July 28
Matsui had 2 hits. He also killed a runner with his lazer beam throw. But the Yankees lost to the Toronto BlueJays 2 to 3.

July 27
Matsui was walked twice. After he was walked in the 8th inning, he stole to 2nd. It's his first steal he's marked this season. His team beat the Toronto BlueJays 7 to 4.

July 25
In the first inning, with bases loaded, Matsui batted a sacrifice fly. His big inning was in the 7th. With bases loaded, this time, he homered. He hit in a total 5 runs this game. But the Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox 6 to 9.

July 24
Matsui hit well. In the 2nd inning, he hit in a run. In the 4th, he also had a base hit. In the 6th, he doubled to take 2 runners home. But the Yankees in the end lost to the Boston Red Sox 10 to 11.

July 19
With runners on first and third, Matsui hit in a runner home. But he also ruined the game. In the 6th inning, he and Ken Lofton was after a fly ball. But perhaps due to a lack of communication, neighter caught the ball. The Yankees lost 7 to 9 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

July 15
Matsui slammed his 18th home run in the 4th inning. He also marked his his 1500th consecutive game appearance, combining his time with the Tokyo Giants. The Yankees clinched this game 5 to 1 over the Detroit Tigers.

All Star Game, July 13
Matsui got a chance to bat in the 9th inning. He faced LA Dodgers Eric Gagnier. He struck out. However, his teammates played well, and the American League beat the National League 9 to 4.

July 11
In the 3rd inning with runners on first and 2nd, Matsui singled, and contributed the team's 4th RBI. In the 6th he had a base hit too. In the 7th he blasted his 17th home run. The Yankees earned a 10 to 3 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

July 9
In the 4th inning, Matsui hit to center. In the 8th, he doubled. The Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 5 to 4.

July 8
Matsui hit to center in the 5th inning. With bases full in the 7th inning, he hit in 2 runs. Matsui contributed to the Yankees 7 to 1 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

July 7
Matsui slammed his 16th homer. It was a 2 run. He had 2 base hits too. The Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers 10 to 8. After the game, it was learned that Matsui earned a spot to the All Star game through internet voting.

July 5
With the bases full in the first inning, Matsui could not contribute. But in the 2nd inning with a runner on 3rd, he hit home. The Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 10 to 3.

July 4
Matsui singled, and doubled, but the Yankees lost its 3rd straight game to the NY Mets in a 5 to 6 game.

July 3
In the first of the subway series at Shea Stadium, Matsui did not have a hit. This time, with a runner on 2nd in the first inning, Matsui hit in an RBI. But his team in the end lost 9 to 10 to the NY Mets.

July 1
In the 9th inning, with the game a tie, Matsui got on base. But it did not lead to finishing the game that inning. The game was finished in the 13th inning. The Yankees managed to beat the Boston Red Sox 5 to 4.

June 30
In the 8th inning, with a runner on 3rd, Matsui singled, and earned an RBI. His contribution helped his team defeat the Boston Red Sox 4 to 2.

June 29
Matsui had 2 hits against the Boston Red Sox. In the 3rd inning, when he was at bat, his team succeeded in a double steal. After that, Matsui hit both runners back. The Yankees won 11 to 3.

June 27
The Yankees played a double header. In the first game, Matsui clobbered a grand slam in the 7th inning. His team won 8 to 1 over the New York Mets. In the 2nd game, however Matsui had no hits. The Yankees managed to win 11 to 6.

June 26
The previous day, the Yankees game was rained out. And so the first day of the subway series was postponed to this day. Matsui faced another Matsui--Kazuo Matsui of the New York Mets. In the 4th inning, Hideki homered. The other Matsui however contributed more and the Yankees lost 3 to 9.

June 24
Matsui had not hits the previous day. This time though he had 2 and his team beat the Baltimore Orioles 5 to 2.

June 22
Matsui hit in a run, and also did well out in the field sliding towards the ball and catching it. The Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 10 to 4.

June 20
Matsui homered in the 3rd inning. In the 7th, with a runner on base, he tripled. But in the bottom of that inning, he missed catching a ball out in the field which has led to the LA Dodgers run. The Yankees lost 4 to 5 to the Dodgers.

June 19
Matsui faced the LA Dodgers Hideo Nomo for the first time. In the first inning, with 2 runners on base, he homered. But he struck out the other 2 times. The Yankees won the game 6 to 2.

June 18
Matsui did not have a hit the last game. This time, in the 9th inning, he hit off from the LA Dodgers Eric Gagne. But it wasn't enough to help his team. The Yankees lost 3 to 6.

June 13
The day before was Matsui's birthday but he did not hit well. This time though, he contributed. In the 9th inning, he homered. It was followed by a catch up homer by Ken Lofton. In the 12th inning, the Yankees clinched the game 6 to 5 over the San Diego Padres.

June 10
Matsui has been rather quiet at bat for a couple of past games. This time in the 5th inning, he made a breakthrough. With the game a tie, he doubled. Eventually he was batted in home. The Yankees in the end won 10 to 4 against the Colorada Rockies.

June 4
Matsui had a base hit and also a home run. His team beat the Texas Rangers 7 to 6.

June 3
In the 7th inning, the inning the Yankees succeeded to surpass the Baltimore Orioles, Matsui contributed too. He slammed the ball to first, and got a runner home. The Yankees won 5 to 2.

June 2
Matsui had no base hit, but he earned an RBI on a grounded ball with bases loaded. The Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6 to 5.

June 1
It was in the 2nd inning, with Jorge Posada on base due to a lucky hit, Matsui was up to bat. He homered, and helped his team tie with the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees in the end clinched the game 8 to 7.

May 30
Matsui is still in great shape. He had 3 base hits. One of the, he hit in the 8th inning with runner on 3rd so he earned an RBI. His team, however, lost to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6 to 7.

May 28
Matsui continued to bat well. He not only got himself on base, he homered. The Yankees won 7 to 5 over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

May 27
Matsui had a busy day. In the 5th inning, he had to bat twice. He hit to center and then in the 2nd time round, he batted in two runners home. In the 7th inning too he hit in an RBI. He was walked and was hit by a pitch otherwise, or got himself on base for all times. His team overwhelmed the Baltimore Orioles 18 to 5.

May 26
In the 7th inning, Matsui slammed his 7th home run. From there, his team batted in 5 runs. And the Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 12 to 9.

May 25
Matsui's first hit led to an RBI. In the 9th, he hit to center and the ball went far down the field. It's the first time this season Matsui tripled. On a sacrifice fly he came home. The Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 11 to 3.

May 23
Matsui hit well. He hit to the right in the first inning, but unfortunately, Alex Rodriguez was called out at home. Matsui doubled twice after that and the Yankees won 8 to 3 against the Texas Rangers.

May 22
In the 7th inning, Matsui hit home Alex Rodriguez to extend the Yankees lead against the Texas Rangers. But in the end, the Rangers clinched the game 4 to 3.

May 20
In the 4th inning, Matsui slammed a 2 run home run. He had another hit to the left. The Yankees beat the Anaheim Angels 6 to 2.

May 19
Matsui paved the way for the Yankees' victory. In the 6th inning, Matsui had a base hit. And that inning, the bases were loaded. He came home. The Yankees defeated the Anaheim Angels 4 to 2.

May 15
The ball that Matsui slammed hit the 3rd floor stand. It's a 2 run homer. But his team lost to the Seattle Mariners 7 to 13.

May 14
Matsui had a 2 base hit, and that led to the Yankees batting in runs to beat the Seattle Mariners 9 to 5.

May 13
Matsui's performance was poor during the past few games. But this time, in the 6th inning, he did it. He blasted his 4th home run. He drove in a run in the 8th inning and contributed to his team's 7 to 4 win over the Anaheim Angels.

May 9
It was a competitive game which the Mariners scored first. In the 8th inning, the game was a tie. Matsui was up with runners on 2nd and 3rd and an out. He banged a sacrifice fly off the Seattle Mariners' Shigetoshi Hasegawa. As a result, the Yankees won 7 to 6 against the Mariners.

May 8
Matsui was unable to contribute this time. For instance, in the 6th inning where A-Rod started with a double, followed by Jason Giambi's and Jorge Posada's, but Matsui was unable to continue the double streak. The Yankees but as a result won 6 to 0 over the Seattle Mariners.

May 7
Matsui did not have any hits the previous game. But this time, against the Seattle Mariners, he did in the 5th inning, by hitting to center. He also ran hard to get home. However, before that, he caused an unusual play. Ruben Sierra went passed Matsui on the diamond. In the end, the Yankees lost to the Mariners 2 to 6.

May 5
Matsui in the 2nd with Jorge Posada on 2nd base, hit to center. But he slammed the ball too hard, it did not give Posada time to come home. After A-Rod slammed a game tying homer in the 9th inning, Matsui hit himself on base and contributed to the team clinching the game 4 to 3 over the Oakland Athletics. In all, Matsui had 3 hits and improve his batting average to .319.

May 4
In the 4th inning, Matsui hit between 3rd and short stop. In the 7th, he disappointed, striking out with the bases loaded and with the Yankees behind. But thanks to Alex Rodrigues's 3 run homer, the team took the lead. In the 9th, Matsui doubled, and that paved the way to his team scoring another run. The Yankees defeated the Oakland Athletics 10 to 8.

May 2
In the 3rd inning, Matsui slammed his team's first hit. It was a double. In the 7th inning, he hit an RBI to tie with the Kansas City Royals. In the end the Yankees won 4 to 2.

May 1
Matsui won an RBI in the first inning even though he grounded the ball as the bases were loaded with an out. In the 5th inning, he blasted his 3rd home run. The Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 12 to 4.

April 30
In the 8th inning, Matsui hit to center. His team won against, this time 5 to 2 against the Kansas City Royals.

April 29
Matsui had 2 base hits this time, but the biggest contributor was Derek Jeter who at last homered. The Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 7 to 5.

April 25
This is his 2nd game in a row Matsui didn't have any hits. His team too has disappointed fans, losing in a 12 inning game the previous day, and again 0 to 2 on this day against the Boston Red Sox. That's 3 consecutive loss to Yankees biggest rival.

April 23
In the 7th inning, Matsu slammed a 2 run homer. It's only his 2nd homer, and the first since he homered in Tokyo. Both times, he performed when his parents were visiting the stadium. But the Yankees were far behind the Boston Red Sox to lose 3 to 11.

April 22
The previous game, Matsui struck out 3 time and had not hit. This time, he had 2 hits. But he won an RBI when he grounded the ball with Jorge Posada on 3rd with one out. The Yankees lost the game 3 to 4 against the Chicago White Sox.

April 20
Matsui had a base hit, and was walked 3 times. What was extraordinary was his toughness. In the 7th inning, he chased a foul ball into the stands and banged his face into an empty seat. He was treated for a bloody nose but continued on to play. The Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 11 to 8.

April 19
Matsui was great with the bat. He had 3 hits and was walked once. But he fielded bad in the 8th inning. He misjudged the direction of a flyball and let it drop. The Red Sox got in a run, and that gave them the game 5 to 4.

April 18
In the 3rd inning, with runners on 2nd and 3rd, Matsui hit to the left. He earned and RBI. And the Yankees won 7 to 3 over the Boston Red Sox.

April 17
Matsui may be picking up his batting pace. In the 4th inning, he banged a base hit off the Boston Red Sox Curt Schilling. In the 6th inning, he got himself on base gain. But the Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox 2 to 5.

April 16
Matsui had a base hit for the first time in 14 at bat. It was in the 5th inning. But he was unable to contribute with runners on base, especially at the most crucial 8th inning with bases loaded. The Yankees lost 2 to 6 to the Boston Red Sox.

April 9
After a no-hit performance the previous day, Matsui started out the game by hitting in a run. He also doubled off former Yakult Swallows Shingo Takatsu. The Yankees however lost again to the Boston White Sox 3 to 9.
Michiyo's Note: Matsui told reporters after the game that his first home run in Japanese professional baseball was actually off Takatsu.

April 6
Matsui batted 6th in the line-up in Tampa Bay. But he was unable to contribute like he had in Tokyo. The Yankees lost 4 to 9 against the Devil Rays.

March 31
The Devil Rays were the first to bat in a run. It was by Aubrey Huff in the first inning. In the 2nd inning, Matsui was able to help his team catch up with an RBI. Then after that, Tony Clark slammed a 2 run homer. Thereafter, the Yankees blasted. In the 5th inning, Matsui homered a double to the delight of fans. Jorge Posada had a 3-run, twice. The Yankees this time beat the Devil Rays 12 to 1. Both teams after this game flew back to the US.

March 30
It was a grand homecoming for Matsui as the season opened at the Tokyo Dome. The place where he played as a Tokyo Giant. Before a sellout crowd he faced the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The game was ceremoniously opened by Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani who pitched to Matsui and Tino Martinez respectively. Matsui, 2nd in the line-up,doubled in the 1st inning. Jason Giambi contined with a homer, giving the Yankees a good start. Newly acquired Alex Rodriguez had his first base hit with the Yankees in the 6th inning. But it was after that Mike Mussina was in trouble. Devil Rays' Jose Cruz Jr homered and Julio Lugo batted in a run. In the 7th inning, Tino Martinez slammed his 300th career homerun. Danys Baez smoothly closed the game to give the Devil Rays a 8 to 3 victory.

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