Matsuzaka Magnificent

Posted by Mike Giardi October 10, 2008 at 11:34 pm

I’ll admit it. I had Daisuke Matsuzaka lasting no more than 5.1 IPs. But after getting the nod in Game One of the ALCS, the Japanese import delivers arguably his best performance of the season in what is - up to now - his biggest game. He no-hits the Rays through 6, then gets out of a first-and-third, no out jam in the 7th. All three outs coming on his 2-seam fastball, which is not a pitch that Matsuzaka tends to have overwhelming confidence in. But he rolled through Dioner Navarro (shallow fly ball to left), Gabe Gross on a ball at the knees, then Jason Bartlett on an easy grounder to short to preserve a 1-0 Sox.