Matsui extends hitting streak in major leagues

Wednesday 07th May, 04:35 PM JST

NEW YORK —

Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees went 3-for-3 against the Cleveland Indians to extend his hitting steak to 15 games in Tuesday’s major league action. Matsui, who batted cleanup as the designated hitter, sprayed singles to center, right and left in the first, fifth and seventh innings in his second three-hit game of the season. He also drew a walk in the fourth in the Yankees’ 5-3 loss.

In other games involving Japanese players, Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda had the shortest outing of his rookie year in the majors, leaving after giving up four runs—two unearned—on eight hits and three walks in a no-decision against the New York Mets. Takashi Saito worked a scoreless ninth to get his fifth save of the season as the Dodgers won 5-4. Akinori Iwamura drove in a pair of runs with a single and a double on a 2-for-5 day to help the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Tadahito Iguchi also had two hits in five at-bats in the San Diego Padres’ 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro hit an RBI double in a 1-for-2 outing before being replaced in the sixth inning in a 10-1 drubbing by the Texas Rangers. Seattle catcher Kenji Jojima finished 0-for-4. Houston Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui doubled in going 1-for-5 in a 6-5 win over the Washington Nationals, while Kosuke Fukudome was hitless for the third straight game as the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-0.