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Dice-K's first inning

JUPITER, Fla. — Another first.

We’ve had the first Daisuke Matsuzaka press conference and the first Dice-K bullpen session and the first live batting practice and the first time he faced hitters in a spring training game.

Today we saw him face MAJOR LEAGUE hitters for the first time in the Grapefruit season.

Dice-K pitched against Boston College last Friday night, but today he started against the Florida Marlins in front of a sellout crowd that included Red Sox owner John Henry and Hall of Fame pitchers Jim Palmer and Dennis Eckersley.

The first batter he faced was former Sox prospect and reigning National League rookie of the year, Hanley Ramirez. The first pitch was a called strike. The home plate umpire was Jerry Meals. Dice-K’s game against BC was called by a college umpire.

Ramirez grounded to Matsuzaka on the second pitch. Marlins second baseman, Dan Uggla, singled to right center on a 1-2 pitch, which appeared to be a breaking ball. Right fielder Jeremy Hermida popped to short on an 0-1 pitch, another breaking ball. First baseman Jason Stokes fouled off a two-strike pitch and worked the count to 3-2 before whiffing on what appeared to be a slider.

Matsuzaka threw 15 pitches in the inning, 11 for strikes. He threw a first-pitch strike to each hitter.

Bill Parcells visited the press box between innings. He said he knows nothing about rumors that the Patriots might be interested in acquiring Randy Moss. He has no opinion on Dice-K.

‘‘I wasn’t watching the first inning,’’ said the Tuna.