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Matsuzaka Escapes Sixth With Lead In Tact
By Administrator | April 5, 2007
After cruising through the first four innings of his major league career, Daisuke Matsuzaka hit a little bump in the fifth and sixth innings today - surrendering his first run (and first home run) in the sixth inning.
Leading off the bottom of the fifth inning, rookie phenom Alex Gordon got the first hit of his major league career — a single to left field. After Dice-K struck out Ryan Shealy and induced Ross Gload to hit a routine fly ball to right, John Buck singled to right-center field — moving Gordon to third base. As in the first inning, Matsuzaka relied on his fastball with the runner in scoring position and induced him on a little tap in front of home plate (fielded by the pitcher).
After the Red Sox squandered a leadoff double by J D Drew in the top of the sixth, Matsuzaka showed he might be tiring in the bottom of the inning. Center fielder David DeJesus led off the inning with a home run. Esteban German then flared a single into center field… but he was erased on a strikem-out, throwem-out double play that required an excellent throw by Jason Varitek and an even-better tag by shortstop Julio Lugo. When the next batter ripped a double into left-center field, pitching coach John Farrell then visited the mound. Undaunted, Diceman struck out Gordon to end the inning.
After Greinke retired the Red Sox on six pitches in the top of the seventh, Matsuzaka came back out for the seventh inning in spite of having thrown 96 pitches through six innings. But Daisuke made quick work of the Royals, striking out both Shealy and Gload, and getting Buck to fly out to Coco Crisp in center field.
And as I write this, Buck will apparently be the young hurlers last batter of the day… Matsuzaka threw 108 pitches (74 for strikes)… he allowed one run on six hits (one HR) and a walk — while striking out TEN Royals batters in his major league debut.
He leaves the game with the Red Sox leading 2-1.
For his part, Royal starter Zack Greinke acquitted himself nicely on his return to the majors… he pitched seven innings and allowed two runs (only one earned) on eight hits and a walk — with seven strikeouts of his own.
Now, its up to the bullpens…
Topics: Sox Games |
