Hideki Matsui gained fame from Tokyo to New York because of his exploits as a lefty-swinging power hitter.Three years after retiring Gardner Minshew II Jersey from the majors, he was back on the diamond Sunday as a right-handed pitcher batting from the right side of the plate.MORE: The former Yankees and Yomiuri Giants slugger started on the mound and helped his team to an extra-inning win in the championship game of a Japanese-American A sociation League tournament in New York.The tracked down Matsui after word of his Javon Hargrave Jersey participation in the Nippon Club's President Cup made the rounds in Japanese-language newspapers around the city.He got involved after an offhand remark by a parent he met at a baseball clinic, who said Matsui should play for his weekend-league team if he mi sed being on the field that much. The 41-year-old eventually took him up on it, under the conditions that he be allowed to sponsor the team and serve as the starting pitcher.So it was that he found himself on the mound in Sunday's title game wearing Philadelphia Eagles T Shirts a navy blue jersey with MATSUI emblazoned on the front, backed by teammates including "a corrections officer, a television cameraman, a human resources manager, accountants, bond traders and a hairdre ser."Batting righty against 43-year-old starter Rich Hartman of Mizuho Bank, Matsui drove in the game's first run with a first-inning grounder to third that was ruled an error, and later collected a hit and walked twice. He was even better on the mound, allowing one hit and striking out 10 in 5 2/3 innings. But he hit a batter Jason Kelce Jersey with the bases loaded in the sixth, bringing home the tying run and ending his day on the mound. Reliever John Zhang took over and Matsui spent the rest of the game in Shaun Bradley Jersey center field until Zhang won it with a bloop single in the 12th inning.Matsui declined an interview request from the Times, but it was clear his presence delighted all involved.I was amped up today," said Hartman, the opposing pitcher, a three-time MVP of the tournament. "Its the first time Ive ever played against somebody like that, and I dont know how many more of these I have left in me.