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Updated at 8:09 p.m., Sunday, September 21, 2008

MLB: Yankees' Matsui to have surgery

Associated Press

NEW YORK _ Hideki Matsui's season is over.

The New York Yankees' slugger will have surgery on his ailing left knee Monday instead of traveling with the team to Toronto.

Sidelined from June 23 to Aug. 18 because inflammation in the knee, Matsui was 1-for-3 with a single and a run Sunday night in New York's 7-3 victory over Baltimore — the final regular-season game at Yankee Stadium.

The outfielder-DH finished the year batting .294 with nine homers and 45 RBIs.

Previously, Matsui said he didn't want to have surgery until the Yankees were out of the playoff race. New York would be knocked out with one more loss or a Boston win.

Matsui has said the operation will be similar to the one performed on his right knee Nov. 14, which delayed his spring training debut this year until March 9. This time, he expects to be ready for the start of spring training in February 2009.