American LeagueHideki Matsui's Major League Baseball consecutive games streak ended on Thursday at 518, and his season may have too.
Matsui broke his left wrist trying for a diving catch in the first inning of the New York Yankees' 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox.
Yankees manager Joe Torre estimated Matsui will be sidelined about three months. After looking at Matsui's swollen wrist, New York center fielder Johnny Damon said it's possible Matsui might not play again until next season.
PHOTO: EPA
"He's like the Rock of Gibraltar," Torre said. "You don't even think about anything that's going to keep him down."
Mark Loretta, Boston's second hitter, sent a broken-bat blooper into left field, and Matsui landed hard on his glove wrist in an unsuccessful bid to make the catch. Yankees trainer Gene Monahan and Torre went out to check on Matsui, who clearly was in pain.
"When Geno said, `Let's take him inside,' I knew that wasn't a good sign," Torre said.
Matsui was put in an ambulance while still in uniform and was to have surgery yesterday. Damon said the left wrist was twice the size of the right wrist.
"He plays hard. He plays with reckless abandon," Damon said. "And he's still able to go out there and play every single day. That was a given for Joe Torre -- he knew he was going to start Matsui in the five- or six-hole. It's crushing. You don't wish this on any team, and it's happened to us."
In his first three full seasons with the Yankees, the three-time Japanese Central League MVP averaged 23 homers and 110 RBIs to go along with a .297 batting average. He is hitting .261 this season with five homers and 19 RBIs.
Matsui, a 31-year-old who is Japan's most famous baseball star, took pride in his consecutive games streak. Before coming to the major leagues, he played in 1,250 consecutive games with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League from Aug. 22, 1993, through 2002, then in every game since joining the Yankees the following year.
"He's a guy that you never even think twice about if he's playing or not," Torre said. "He goes in there and he finds a way to help you win -- whether it's with his reactions in the outfield, his knowledge on the basepaths or his ability to hit in tight situations."
New York was already missing a starting outfielder: Right fielder Gary Sheffield hurt his left wrist in a collision at first base on April 29, and went on the disabled list this week. He can't come off the DL until May 21, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Sheffield might go to Tampa, Florida, for rehabilitation.
For now, Melky Cabrera is the right fielder and Bubba Crosby the left fielder, with Bernie Williams seeing occasional time in the outfield, too. New York planned to bring up outfielder Kevin Reese from minor league Triple-A Columbus on Friday.
In addition, Damon banged up a shoulder and aggravated a previous foot injury making a leaping catch against the center-field wall on a fourth-inning drive by former Boston teammate Doug Mirabelli.
Torre said the Yankees wouldn't push for Sheffield to return more quickly.
"The way he swings the bat, I can't do that. He's not going to be any use to us," Torre said. "Even 80 percent of him, I think the 80 percent, most of that would be scaring the pitcher as opposed to being effective."
Because of a quirky baseball rule, Matsui's streak of games played ended as soon as the game became official.
Baseball rule 10.24 (c) states: "A consecutive game playing streak shall be extended if the player plays one half inning on defense, or if he completes a time at bat by reaching base or being put out."
If Matsui had been ejected in the top of the first, his streak would have continued, according to the rule.
He holds the major league record to start a career, surpassing Ernie Banks' run of 424 consecutive games played for the Chicago Cubs from 1953-1956.
Matsui's streak was the longest for the Yankees since Lou Gehrig played in 2,130 straight games from 1925-1939, which was the big league record until Cal Ripken of the Baltimore Orioles broke it in 1995.
"For him to come out of the ballgame, we knew it wasn't going to be just a day-to-day thing," said Crosby, whose locker is next to Matsui's. "We do communicate, even though there is a language barrier. It's tough because he was just getting his swing back."
Red Sox 5, Yankees 3
Hideki Matsui's broken wrist left the Yankees without another power-hitting outfielder, and the Red Sox rallied past New York on Mark Loretta's two-run infield single.
Loretta finished with four hits. His first sent Matsui to a hospital, and his last put the Red Sox ahead in the seventh.
Boston's No. 2 hitter sent a blooper into left field in the first inning, and Matsui landed hard on his wrist in an unsuccessful bid to make a diving catch. He immediately left the game, was put in an ambulance while still in uniform and was to have surgery Friday. The Yankees did not say when he would be able to return, and a lengthy absence appears likely.
New York was already missing a starting outfielder: Right fielder Gary Sheffield hurt his left wrist in a collision at first base on April 29 and went on the disabled list this week. He can't come off the DL until May 21, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Sheffield might go to Tampa, Florida, for rehabilitation.
Because Matsui did not play a full half inning, his consecutive games streak ended at 518 when the game became official.
Boston took two of three in the series, opened a one-game American League East lead and has won three of four against New York this year.
Tim Wakefield (3-4) struck out nine, allowing three runs and six hits.
Ron Villone (0-1) took the loss.
Blue Jays 8, Athletics 3
At Toronto, Troy Glaus homered twice and drove in four runs and Ted Lilly pitched effectively into the eighth inning to beat his former team.
Glaus hit a three-run homer off Kirk Saarloos (1-1) in the third inning and a solo shot in the fifth for his third multihomer game this season and the 21st of his career. Acquired from Arizona in the offseason, Glaus has 12 home runs and 30 RBIs.
Gregg Zaun also homered for the new-look Blue Jays (19-15), who moved four games over .500 for the first time this season.
Lilly (4-2) allowed three runs and five hits in 7 2-3 innings.
Nick Swisher homered twice for the A's.
National League
Barry Bonds remained one home run shy of Babe Ruth's 714, going 0-for-3 with two walks that keyed a pair of rallies in the San Francisco Giants' 9-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
The slugger will resume his pursuit Friday night against the Dodgers and pitcher Brad Penny, who has allowed three homers to Bonds.
Bonds' homerless stretch reached three games and the banners to honor him were still rolled up and waiting to be unfurled from two light towers in center field on each side of the main scoreboard.
But Bonds still contributed plenty by getting on base. He was walked in a five-run first inning and again ahead of Steve Finley's bases-loaded triple in the fourth as the Giants gave Jamey Wright (3-3) more than enough support to snap a three-start losing streak.
San Francisco scored six runs following Bonds' walks.
Cubs starter Sean Marshall (2-1) gave up nine runs and nine hits in 3 2-3 innings.
Astros 4, Dodgers 2
At Los Angeles, Wandy Rodriguez took a shutout into the seventh inning, Dan Wheeler escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth and Houston snapped a six-game losing streak with a victory over Los Angeles.
All-Star closer Brad Lidge gave up an RBI single to pinch-hitter Willy Aybar in the ninth and loaded the bases with two outs before he was pulled. Wheeler then retired Kenny Lofton on a routine fly for his first save.
Mike Lamb and Eric Munson each had an RBI single for Houston. Rogriguez (5-1) prevented the Astros from being swept on a road trip of at least seven games for the first time since September 1996. The only run against him came on a homer by Jeff Kent, his third in three days.
Derek Lowe (1-2) gave up four runs -- two earned -- and six hits in seven innings. A two-out throwing error by shortstop Rafael Furcal in the seventh allowed two runs to score.
Padres 8, Brewers 5
At San Diego, Jake Peavy matched his career high with 13 strikeouts and allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings to lead San Diego past Milwaukee for its 11th victory in 12 games.
The Padres took two of three from the Brewers, who ended San Diego's nine-game winning streak Tuesday. The Padres won six of seven on the homestand.
The Brewers, who struck out 16 times, have lost seven of nine. They went 1-5 on a six-game road trip through Los Angeles and San Diego.
Peavy (3-3) also had two hits and two RBIs. Dave Roberts added three hits and two stolen bases.
Brewers starter Ben Hendrickson (0-1) allowed seven runs and seven hits in 2 1-3 innings.
Reds 5, Nationals 4, 11 innings
At Cincinnati, Ken Griffey Jr. made a dramatic return to Cincinnati's lineup, hitting a three-run homer in the 11th inning for a pulsating victory over Washington.
The 36-year-old outfielder hit the second pitch from Joey Eischen (0-1) for his 539th career homer, and one of the most unlikely in the bunch. Griffey hadn't played for a month because of a strained tendon behind his right knee.
The Reds rallied against one of the National League's most overworked bullpens to set up Griffey's decisive swing. Felipe Lopez had a run-scoring single in the 11th off Felix Rodriguez, who then walked Edwin Encarnacion with one out and the Nationals clinging to a 4-2 lead.
Griffey also doubled and made a diving catch to back eight shutout innings by Bronson Arroyo.
Matt LeCroy tied it at 1 in the ninth with a shallow sacrifice fly, and Nick Johnson homered in the 11th to start a three-run rally for a 4-1 Washington lead.
Phillies 2, Mets 0, 5 innings, rain
At Philadelphia, center fielder Aaron Rowand broke his nose on a spectacular run-saving catch, Chase Utley homered and Philadelphia beat New York in a rain-shortened game.
Gavin Floyd (4-2) allowed two hits and walked four in five innings to help the Phillies take two of three from the Mets and move within three games of the NL East leaders.
Floyd was bailed out in the first inning by Rowand's courageous catch.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Xavier Nady hit a drive to deep center that put Rowand on the run with his back to the infield. He made the overhead catch in his outstretched glove as he smacked face first into the railing on top of the short bullpen fence next to the 398-foot sign and collapsed to the ground. His left knee dented the "M" in a wall advertisement and blood spurted from his nose.
Rowand gamely held up his glove to show the ball, then rested on his hands and knees as trainers and Phillies manager Charlie Manuel ran out.
Rowand, acquired in the trade that sent Jim Thome to the Chicago White Sox, held a towel on his face as he was helped off the field to a standing ovation. He was taken to a hospital. The catch saved at least three runs.
Braves 9, Marlins 1
At Miami, Dontrelle Willis was roughed up again, and Atlanta got a season-high 18 hits to back Tim Hudson in a victory over struggling Florida.
Matt Diaz went 5-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Andruw Jones and Todd Pratt each hit a two-run double in Atlanta's six-run third inning against Willis, who has lost four straight starts for the first time in his career. The Marlins (9-23) have dropped 12 of 13 at home.
A 22-game winner last season and runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award, Willis (1-4) allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 2 2-3 innings. His ERA climbed to 6.22. Willis' only win was April 14 against Washington.
Hudson (3-3) gave up one run and five hits in six innings with seven strikeouts.
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