Written by Andy | 10 June 2011

Keith Allison/FlickrOakland A's designated hitter Hideki Matsui just missed an opportunity for an impressive personal achievement on Wednesday when he fell short of hitting for the cycle by failing to notch a triple, a home run, a double and a single.

"It's so rare to have a guy hit for the cycle, you can't be mad at Hideki for coming so close," said Oakland general manager Billy Beane of Matsui's near historic 0-for-4 performance. "He would have had a home run if the fence were about fifty-feet closer, and if the ball had gotten away from the right fielder on that short pop-up he probably could have legged out a triple. It's just nice to see him be able to put a ball in play once in a while."

Matsui, currently batting .215 on the season, "just missed" getting a single and double in the 3rd and 7th innings respectively, when he struck out and grounded to first on pitches that were "totally hittable."

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