Matsuzaka pitches 5 solid innings in rehab start
ALLENTOWN, Pa.—Daisuke Matsuzaka allowed two runs and three hits over five innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday night, his first game action since straining his rotator cuff last month.
The Boston Red Sox right-hander dominated Lehigh Valley hitters for the first four innings, throwing just 39 pitches while facing the minimum 12 batters. The IronPigs, the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, then used three hits, a walk and a wild pitch to score two runs in the fifth.
Overall, the 27-year-old Matsuzaka faced 19 hitters, striking out five, walking one and throwing 47 of his 65 pitches for strikes. He earned the win in Pawtucket's 9-6 victory.
"There were a few things I wanted to try out while I was out there and one of them was (locating) my fastball," Matsuzaka said through a translator. "And I feel I was able to achieve that."
He's not sure when he'll return to the Red Sox, however.
"I don't know what percent I'm at, but I'm ready to pitch again," Matsuzaka said.
Matsuzaka was injured when reaching for an off-line throw by Red Sox first baseman Sean Casey while covering first base May 27 in Seattle.
Matsuzaka, 8-0 with a 2.53 ERA in 11 starts for Boston this season, came out for warmups to start the following inning but left when he felt discomfort. He was placed on the disabled list May 30, retroactive to May 28.
(This version CORRECTS strikeouts.)
