Remembering Mets History (2005) Kaz Matsui Sets Franchise Record with Five Lead off HRs

Tuesday April 6th: On Opening Day, the Mets were in Atlanta facing the rival Braves. This season pitcher Tom Glavine who had tormented the Mets for years was now on their team signing as a free agent in the off season. The Mets had signed Japanese All Star Kaz Matsui that season as well.

In his MLB debut, Matsui became the third Mets player to hit a HR in his first career at bat. Matsui homered off the Braves Russ Ortiz to start the season. Matsui had a great debut, collecting three hits with a HR & two doubles driving in three runs in the Mets 7-2 win.

Wednesday April 28th: The Mets were in Los Angeles taking on the Dodgers. In the top of the 1st inning, Matsui led off the game with a HR off Odalis Perez, for his second leadoff HR of the season. Matsui would collect two hits in the game, keeping his average at .272. The Dodgers won the game 3-2, led by HRs from Adrian Beltre & Dave Roberts coming off losing pitcher Steve Trachsel.

Wednesday May 12th: The Mets (15-19) were in Arizona taking on the Diamondbacks (14-19) in what was pitching duel between a couple of future Hall of famers, Tom Glavine & Randy Johnson. 1-0 thriller. In the top of the 1st, Kaz Matsui led off with a HR off Randy Johnson for the only run of the game.

The Mets Tom Glavine tossed 7.2 innings of shutout ball, allowing just three hits striking out three & walking two for his fifth win (5-2). Glavine was posting a 2.05 ERA. Braden Looper came on for his fifth save.

Saturday May 22nd: The previous night the Mets opened up a three game homestand hosting the
Colorado Rockies. They won the first game 9-7 with Matsui collecting a pair of hits with an RBI.

In the second game on Saturday night, the Mets Tyler Yates went up against the Rockies Aaron Cook. In the bottom of the 1st inning, Matsui started the inning with his fourth lead off HR of the season, tying Tommie Agee's franchise record set in 1969. 

Trivia: Agee did not hit his first lead off HR until July that season & hit three in the month. On September 3rd he hit his fourth lead off HR in a loss at Dodger Stadium. 

The Mets put up three runs in the inning, but Colorado came back to tie the game. In the bottom of the 8th inning Ty Wigginton's two run HR was the game winner for the Mets.

Sunday May 23rd: In this afternoon game with the Mets going for the sweep, Tom Glavine would pitch a one hit complete game shutout, striking out eight. It was the 27th one hitter thrown by a Mets pitcher in franchise history & one of two one hitters Glavine would throw in his Mets career.

For Matsui he led off the Mets bottom of the 1st inning, with a HR off former Met Shawn Estes. Matsui had hit leadoff HRs in back-to-back games for the Mets & now passed Agee with his fifth lead off HR setting a franchise record.

Matsui collected two hits in the game, as the Mets won it 4-0 sweeping the series with the Rockies. He would not hit another HR until a July 2nd subway series win where he hit two-HRs in his only multi-HR game in his Mets career. That was also his last HR of the season as injuries limited his action in the final months.

Matsui batted .272 with seven HRs 32 doubles two triples 65 runs scored & 44 RBIs while stealing 14 bases in his rookie season. That year he came in sixth in the Rookie of the Year voting as well.