"Hideki Matsui isn't the hitter he was during his prime with the Yankees, but you wouldn't know that from his recent appearances at Yankee Stadium.

After blasting a seventh-inning shot into the right field seats yesterday in the Athletics' 4-3 win, the former Yankee has homered in four of his last five games in The Bronx.

And although his blast against Boone Logan to lead off the seventh provided the Athletics with a critical run, the fans still gave Matsui a loud ovation.

"I did notice it, but I think they made a mistake," Matsui said through a translator after his homer gave the A's a 4-2 lead. "I think they must have thought the Yankees scored."

Nevertheless, he appreciated the recognition.

"I was here such a long time, they all have a very special place [for me]," Matsui said of the fans, who saw him hit 140 homers as a Yankee.

The fans' reaction didn't get by Logan, either."