Post by Fish Troll on Mar 26, 2007 15:19:55 GMT -5
Matsuzaka tosses five no-hit innings
Right-hander throws 104 pitches, striking out six against Reds
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Daisuke Matsuzaka had a hard time commanding the strike zone in Monday's start against the Reds, but perhaps he was effectively wild. Over five innings, Matsuzaka didn't give up a hit or a run, though he did walk five.
Thanks to his uneconomic approach -- Matsuzaka threw 104 pitches in the five frames -- he went an inning less than originally scheduled.
Matsuzaka labored at the start, walking leadoff batter Ryan Freel and then getting behind, 3-0, on No. 2 batter Adam Dunn. The tide turned when Dunn swung on 3-0 and popped to left. The rest of the inning was uneventful, as Brandon Phillips flew to center and Ken Griffey Jr. popped out to second.
The second inning was even more of a struggle, with Matsuzaka needing 26 pitches to get through the inning. A catcher's interference call on Jason Varitek -- which could have been the third out of the inning -- prolonged things. Still, Matsuzaka stranded two runners by getting Bobby Livingston on a grounder to short.
Matsuzaka appeared to be getting into his groove in the third, striking out two. The only glitch was a two-out walk to Alex Gonzalez.
He got better as the outing went on, striking out two in the fourth and another pair in the fifth. Matsuzaka ended the day in style, blowing a fastball by Phillips for strikeout No. 6.
The right-hander will make his final exhibition outing on Saturday in Philadelphia. That outing will be scaled down, as Matsuzaka is expected to be limited to about 60 pitches.
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Right-hander throws 104 pitches, striking out six against Reds
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Daisuke Matsuzaka had a hard time commanding the strike zone in Monday's start against the Reds, but perhaps he was effectively wild. Over five innings, Matsuzaka didn't give up a hit or a run, though he did walk five.
Thanks to his uneconomic approach -- Matsuzaka threw 104 pitches in the five frames -- he went an inning less than originally scheduled.
Matsuzaka labored at the start, walking leadoff batter Ryan Freel and then getting behind, 3-0, on No. 2 batter Adam Dunn. The tide turned when Dunn swung on 3-0 and popped to left. The rest of the inning was uneventful, as Brandon Phillips flew to center and Ken Griffey Jr. popped out to second.
The second inning was even more of a struggle, with Matsuzaka needing 26 pitches to get through the inning. A catcher's interference call on Jason Varitek -- which could have been the third out of the inning -- prolonged things. Still, Matsuzaka stranded two runners by getting Bobby Livingston on a grounder to short.
Matsuzaka appeared to be getting into his groove in the third, striking out two. The only glitch was a two-out walk to Alex Gonzalez.
He got better as the outing went on, striking out two in the fourth and another pair in the fifth. Matsuzaka ended the day in style, blowing a fastball by Phillips for strikeout No. 6.
The right-hander will make his final exhibition outing on Saturday in Philadelphia. That outing will be scaled down, as Matsuzaka is expected to be limited to about 60 pitches.
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070326&content_id=1860152&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos
