- Matsuzaka – Kelly O’Conner, sittingstill.net
Daisuke Matsuzaka may have pitched himself into another rehab start instead of a possible start with the Boston Red Sox.
Matsuzaka admitted that would be the case after a lackluster performance Saturday night for the Pawtucket Red Sox against the Columbus Clippers
“I’m not sure where I’m going to be pitching for my next outing but it’s probably going to be in the minors,” Matsuzaka said through interpreter Jeff Cutler. “In that game I need to work on my two-seam which is supposed to be a pitch that’s going to help me. It put me behind in the count a lot tonight.”
That was apparent considering Matsuzaka allowed five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one, struck out five, hit two batters and threw 54 of 90 pitches for strikes.
Boston placed Matsuzaka on its disabled list last May 17 and he underwent Tommy John surgery on June 10. In four rehab starts, he’s pitched 18 2/3 innings and allowed 10 runs (nine earned) on 18 hits replete with six walks and 19 strikeouts.
Matsuzaka’s 2012 minor league ERA elevated to 4.33 from 2.71 after last night’s game.
“I was pretty satisfied with my fastball … it improved from my last outing,” said Matsuzaka who topped out at 93 and consistently threw that pitch in the 88-to-92 range. “Areas that I’m not too happy about were my off-speed pitches.”
PawSox manager Arnie Beyeler concurred with the right-hander.
“Comparing it to the other night (May 7) I didn’t see stuff as crisp,” Beyeler said after a 7-6 victory. “I saw more thigh-high to belt-high than thigh-high to knee-high.
“I think that sums it up. He was flat and not crisp tonight. He was around the zone and threw some strikes. But he had a little trouble finishing off hitters. I think that was because his command was off. He had better plane the other night. He was down more.”
Of even more importance is the decision Boston must make regarding Matsuzaka whose 30-day rehab window closes May 23. At the most, that allows for only one more rehab start.
“My elbow felt better than it did last time and my body felt great,” Matsuzaka said. “But looking at tonight’s results, there are obvious areas I need to work on. That would be command of my off-speed pitches. Most of the hits came off my off-speed pitches.”
Matsuzaka encountered a jam in the third when Gregorio Petit and Ezequiel Carrera sandwiched singles around a strikeout of Ben Copeland.
Andy LaRoche’s hit-and-run single scored Pettit. But Matsuzaka averted further damage by retiring Cord Phelps on a foul pop and Chad Huffman on a liner to right.
Matsuzaka’s most impressive inning was the fourth when he fanned the side. He caught Beau Mills, Russ Canzler and Matt Pagnozi each looking at third strikes.But Matsuzaka hit Petit leading off the fifth and Copeland pulled a two-run homer to right field. The sixth commenced in the same manner as Matsuzaka hit Huffman to lead the frame and then was clipped for a two-run homer by Canzler which tied the game 5-5. Copeland’s homer came on a changeup while Canzler’s came on a cutter.