Hideki Matsui not only erased the zeroes next to his name, but he also was in the middle of every important Yankees rally last night.
Joe Torre was rewarded for his faith in the struggling designated hitter: Matsui went 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored, helping spark the Yankees to an 8-4 victory over the Indians in Game 3 of the AL Division Series.
Matsui was grateful his manager stuck with him while trying to find a spot in the batting order for Jason Giambi, who got the start at first base.
“The fact (Torre) trusts in me and gave me the chance and put me in the starting lineup, I really appreciate it,” Matsui said. “It’s an honor to be treated that way.”
Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Matsui entered the game as the members of the Yankees’ starting lineup still searching for their first hit this postseason, but that list is history: All three broke through last night.
The most significant of those contributions came from Matsui, dropped by Torre to seventh in the batting order.
His infield hit against Jake Westbrook leading off the third led to the Yankees’ first run. After advancing to second on Robinson Cano’s groundout, Matsui broke for third on a squib Melky Cabrera hit in front of the plate. Indians catcher Victor Martinez fielded the ball and fired to third, but Matsui just beat the tag, putting runners on the corners with one out. Johnny Damon’s ensuing RBI single cut the Indians’ lead to 3-1.
Giambi struck out leading off the fifth before Matsui singled, the first of four straight hits against Westbrook that included Damon’s three-run homer to put the Yankees ahead 5-3. Matsui had scored from third on Cabrera’s RBI single.
An inning later, Matsui was intentionally walked to load the bases and scored when Trot Nixon permitted Cano’s RBI single to roll under his glove in right field for a two-run error.
“It wasn’t so much what I did, but we were in a must-win situation,” Matsui said. “The fact that we won, that was more of a relief than anything.”
mpuma@nypost.com