Matsuzaka Stifles Indians, But Puts Red Sox In Tough Predicament

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka had a nightmarish first five months of the season. He was roughed up in his first three starts, allowing twelve runs in eleven innings, and it only got worse. The former 18-game winner had two effective starts, but then fell completely apart, relinquishing five, four, and six runs over his final three June outings. At this juncture of the season, the Japanese righthander had failed to log six innings in any start, and had, overall, compiled a 1-5 record with a 8.23 Earned Run Average.

The Red Sox shelved Mastuzaka, placing him on the 15-day disabled list with what they diagnosed as “shoulder fatigue.” He spent ten days on that version of the disabled list, then was moved to the 60-day variety. The team moved on without him, and were helped considerably by Clay Buchholz, who emerged in his stead as a quality middle-of-the-rotation starter.

They hardly missed Matsuzaka, and didn’t miss a beat during the entirety of his near three month absence. But, thanks to their strengthening program and Matzusaka’s improvement in rehab, they were anxious to welcome back a revitalized Matsuzaka, hoping he would return to his 2008 form and effectively contribute.

When asked how he thought Matsuzaka would perform coming off the shoulder injury, Peter Gammons couldn’t venture a guess, saying, in effect, that neither he nor many within the Red Sox organization knew what to expect from him. Matsuzaka didn’t pitch particularly well in various rehab starts, and though his career numbers have been beyond satisfactory, he has never been a  very dependable starter. There has been as good a chance of brilliance as failure. For his and the Red Sox sake, the brilliant Matsuzaka has graced the mound since his reinstatement.  He pitched six innings, six shutout innings no less, to defeat the Anaheim Angels, allowed three runs in his next start against the Baltimore Orioles, another win, then tossed seven innings of one-run ball in a tough-luck loss to the New York Yankees.

His tremendous trend continued against the Cleveland Indians. Since Boston has already clinched a playoff berth, the game was meaningless for the team, but certainly not for Matsuzaka. It was his final tuneup before the playoffs, and a chance to prove that he was worthy of being named the Red Sox number-three starter and thereby have a crucial role in the upcoming American League Division series.

He did his best to convince manager Terry Francona they he was ready to assume such a position by tossing six innings, and allowing two runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out seven over that span. It was his fourth straight solid start, and boosted Boston’s already sky-high spirits.

His offense wasted no time in giving him support. Jacoby Ellsbury doubled to leadoff the bottom the first, stole third for his 69 theft on the season, then scored as the throw from Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach evaded third baseman Matt LaPorta and scampered wildly past.

Matsuzaka sent down nine of the first ten batters he faced, then, for his efforts, was given a large enough cushion. Three runs scored after the Red Sox loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the third inning: Dustin Pedroia plated Jason Varitek with a sacrifice fly, Victor Martinez, facing his former team, singled home Alex Gonzalez, and Jason Bay doubled to score Martinez.

Four runs was more than enough for Matsuzaka, as his only hiccup was a two-run fifth inning. His third win in his past four starts had to be encouraging to Boston, but it also puts them in a tough predicament.

Buchholz, aside his last outing in which he allowed seven runs and five homers to the Toronto Blue Jays, has been excellent over the course of the season, unlike Matsuzaka. Yet, he could be ousted from his post as their number-three starter entering the playoffs, with Matsuzaka inserted in his place. The Red Sox have a tough decision on their hands: do they go with Matsuzaka, who has pitched well of late but is far from dependable, or Buchholz, who has made a name for himself with his consistency and glimpses of utter dominance?