In a New York state of mind

Early liftoff for Matsuzaka & Co.

By Amalie Benjamin, Globe Staff  |  April 27, 2007

BALTIMORE -- Daisuke Matsuzaka left the clubhouse, clad in jeans and a black T-shirt, with a throng of Japanese media trailing him. He was destined for an early trip to New York, where the interest shouldn't be directed at his first appearance in The House That Ruth Built. It's not about the venue or the fans, it's about the hitters.

And the Yankees represent some of the best. Especially the second time they see a pitcher.

"Hitters are going to make adjustments," manager Terry Francona said before last night's 5-2 Sox victory over Baltimore. "That's the whole part of baseball. It happens all the time. We do it. They do it. It's part of it."

Though Matsuzaka picked up the win last Sunday night over the Yankees to even his record at 2-2, it likely wasn't what he had envisioned, as he allowed six runs on eight hits in seven innings and bumped his ERA to 4.00. And that was without Hideki Matsui in the Yankees' lineup. (Which will be the main story line in Japan tonight -- the Monster vs. Godzilla.)

So, because Matsuzaka throws, say, 17 or so different pitches, does that mean he's likely to have success against a lineup that can make adjustments?

"There's a lot of different variables," Jason Varitek said. "The more we get him, the better his location, his command, and everything becomes, that's when we're going to really figure everything out. It's a tremendous hitting lineup. Period. It really is. I think that can definitely go both ways. But I think it's how he's able to execute what he does.

"It doesn't matter how many pitches he has if he doesn't execute."

Varitek said the key to Matsuzaka's learning curve -- especially against the Yankees -- will be his location. If his location is dead-on, Varitek said, he learns more (including about the hitters) than if the quality of his pitches isn't quite so good.

Though Francona had mentioned the disabled list as a possibility for injured center fielder Coco Crisp Wednesday, it appears Crisp won't need the recovery time to come back from the tightness in his oblique that has cost him the starting lineup the last five games.

"I'm playing [today]. I'm playing [today], unless I'm not in the lineup," Crisp said after last night's game, in his recent cryptic fashion. "I'm going to tell [Francona] how I feel [today]. I felt fine earlier [yesterday].

"I just took regular swings. Regular swings, took BP. Stretched, did everything out there. I feel fine."

Francona had said before the game the team would evaluate Crisp after he worked out harder yesterday, making sure no stiffness occurred as he sat in the dugout during the game. Crisp said there were no ill effects after the prolonged workout.

"I think he's doing really well," said Francona, who seemed unsure Crisp would start tonight. "I might actually call him [today] and see how he's feeling. We've got to sit down and I've got to talk to the medical staff, but I think he's leaning toward really wanting to play. We'll see how he feels. That's a pretty big outfield. We've waited six days, I don't want to do something silly. But if he's OK to play, he's worked pretty hard and the medical staff's worked hard for him, and he's bounced back from everything -- especially the last couple days -- a lot better, so we'll see."

Jon Lester was scheduled to have tests in Boston yesterday to check on his progress from anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Results are not expected for a few days. Barring another rainout, which bumped his scheduled start Wednesday, Lester is on tap to pitch his first game for Pawtucket tonight against Buffalo . . . With the series sweep, the Red Sox are now 9-2 at Camden Yards since the start of 2006. They are 17-3 against the Orioles overall over that same stretch . . . Mike Lowell's eighth-inning double extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Lowell came home on Wily Mo Peña's grand slam . . . Josh Beckett tied the Red Sox record for wins in April with his fifth. Babe Ruth (1917) and Pedro Martínez (2000) share the mark . . . Jonathan Papelbon remained perfect for his career in April, running his saves record to 17 for 17 in the month. It was his seventh save of 2007. He has never allowed a run against the Orioles . . . As of yesterday afternoon, J.D. Drew still hadn't seen his brother Stephen's walkoff home run that led to Padres starter Jake Peavy getting a no-decision in a game in which he struck out 16 Diamondbacks Wednesday . . . Portland was rained out -- again -- Wednesday, making it 10 games it has lost to weather this season. The Sea Dogs have nine doubleheaders on their upcoming schedule.

Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com.