By TEREZ A. PAYLOR

The Kansas City Star

Updated Mar 29, 2011 8:17 PM ET

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)

Hideki Matsui figures if he has a good season in his first year with the Oakland Athletics it could provide some strength for his struggling countrymen back home in Japan.

His new club wants to do its part, too.

Matsui and the A’s announced Tuesday they have already raised more than $50,000 to help with relief efforts in Japan after the 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami devastated his homeland March 11 and killed thousands. Matsui separately donated $620,000 himself.

”It’s been a sad story,” Matsui said before Oakland hosted the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game. ”Hopefully I can play well and this could provide some good news for the people in Japan. I have nothing but appreciation for the efforts the A’s have gone through for this. It happened in such a faraway place.”

Hiroshi Inomata, Japan’s consul general in San Francisco, expressed his gratitude to Matsui and the A’s for quickly going to work to aid those in need. Oakland will donate $1 for every ticket sold to this Sunday’s game – Japanese Heritage Day – against Seattle to the Red Cross for relief efforts in Japan.

The uniforms worn by Matsui and fellow Japanese star Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners from the their opener Friday night in Oakland will be framed and auctioned off Sunday to help the cause.

”The message I hope I can convey to the people is, ‘Hang in there and give it your best,”’ Matsui said.

OAKLAND, California (AP)—Hideki Matsui(notes) feels if he has a good season in his first year with the Oakland Athletics it could provide some strength for his struggling countrymen back home in Japan.

His new club wants to do its part, too.

Matsui and the A’s announced Tuesday they have already raised more than $50,000 to help with relief efforts in Japan after the 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami devastated his homeland March 11 and killed thousands. Matsui separately donated $620,000 himself.

“It’s been a sad story,” Matsui said before Oakland hosted the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game. “Hopefully I can play well and this could provide some good news for the people in Japan. I have nothing but appreciation for the efforts the A’s have gone through for this. It happened in such a faraway place.”

Hiroshi Inomata, Japan’s consul general in San Francisco, expressed his gratitude to Matsui and the A’s for quickly going to work to aid those in need. Oakland will donate $1 for every ticket sold to this Sunday’s game—Japanese Heritage Day—against Seattle to the Red Cross for relief efforts in Japan.

The uniforms worn by Matsui and fellow Japanese star Ichiro Suzuki(notes) of the Mariners from the their opener Friday night in Oakland will be framed and auctioned off Sunday to help the cause.

“The message I hope I can convey to the people is, ‘Hang in there and give it your best,”’ Matsui said.

PHOENIX – David Winfree hit a two-run double in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 4-2 Sunday in a matchup of split-squads.

Oakland starter Dallas Braden turned in his best performance of the spring. He allowed one run and nine hits in six innings while striking out two and walking none.

Barry Enright had another strong start for Arizona, allowing two runs and four hits. He struck out four in five innings. Enright hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his five starts this spring.

David Nick scored on Wily Mo Pena’s double in the sixth and added an RBI triple in the ninth for the Diamondbacks.

Kurt Suzuki and Kevin Kouzmanoff each had RBI singles for the Athletics.

Gonzalez strikes out 5 in 3 innings, A’s win

Article Author: Kevin Holden

Gio Gonzalez struck out five in three hitless innings and the Oakland Athletics beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 Sunday in a split-squad game for both teams.