Boston Red Sox Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka Gives Up 3 Runs In Minor League Loss

Published: 24^th Apr 12 6:13 pm

by Eric Haftel
Eric Haftel

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Boston Red Sox Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka Gives Up 3 Runs In Minor League Loss

Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka took the mound in a professional baseball game for the first time since May 16, 2011. He is making his way back from Tommy John Surgery that took place on June 10.

Matsuzaka went four innings for Single-A Salem, allowing three runs on six hits en route to earning the loss.

Dice-K struck out two and walked none while throwing 57 pitches (41 strikes), working in the 87 to 94 mph range with his fastball, then threw 13 more pitches in the bullpen.

The Sox pitcher gave up a home run on an 0-2 pitch to the first batter he faced, Wilmington Blue Rocks (Kansas City Royals affiliate) player, Whit Merrifield. Geulin Beltre added a solo blast to lead off the second inning. The sad part about that is, Wilmington had hit just two homers in its previous 15 games.

Merrifield said he got a hanging slider from Matsuzaka and capitalized on it.

“Hopefully, I can get to the point where I face guys like this on a regular basis,” he said. “That’s the goal. But definitely early in my career, this is one of my better moments.”

Even though he hit a bomb off of him, Merrifield still came away impressed with the pitcher’s stuff.

“Changeup’s nasty,” he said. “Today, that was his best pitch — I guess the gyroball or whatever he calls it. He’s getting back into it, and we could tell he’s got good stuff.”

During his five seasons with Boston, the 31-year-old pitcher has posted a 49-30 record with a 4.25 ERA.

The Sox needs all the help they can get and if Dice-K can help in anyway, it can only help. I doubt it though. He has been overall a disappointment for Boston. His only good season was in 2008 when he went 18-3 with a 2.90 era. Don’t ever expect to see those numbers though.

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