News
Dice-K has big assignment vs. CC
Boston (91-62) at New York (98-56), 4:10 p.m. ET
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
09/26/09 2:07 AM ET
NEW YORK -- Daisuke Matsuzaka's first two outings back from the disabled list have both been encouraging, and both resulted in victories. But the right-hander will get his best test yet when he faces the Yankees on Saturday afternoon in a game that will be nationally televised on FOX.It will be a compelling pitching matchup all around, as the Yankees counter with CC Sabathia.
Fans are in for a treat if this game matches the only previous duel between the two pitchers -- a 1-0 win by Matsuzaka on July 24, 2007, in Cleveland.
This will be the first time Matsuzaka has faced the Yankees in 2009. Despite how well he has pitched since returning, the Red Sox are still in the progress of trying to determine how much they can ask out of Dice-K in the postseason.
"I don't know if I quite have that answer yet," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He's only pitched twice, and it's been really encouraging. I think when we did [bring him back for] this year, we really thought it would be more helpful down the road. We're really pleased he's been able to come back and even be pitching for us now. But the whole idea was for his future. I don't know how it will unfold in the next couple of weeks, I really don't."
But the Red Sox know they have reason to be enthused, be it for the short or long term. Matsuzaka is in far better condition than he was earlier in the season, and his fastball has more life through the strike zone.
"The thing we're kind of happy about is when he was pitching earlier in the season, he pitched and he seemed to be trending [downward]," Francona said. "As he accumulates innings and pitches now, he seems to be going [upward], which is a good sign."
As for Sabathia, he is 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA in three starts against the Red Sox this season. His best outing against Boston was at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 8, when he fired 7 2/3 shutout innings.
The Red Sox and Yankees have two games left in their season series, with Boston holding a 9-7 edge. But momentum has switched drastically after the Red Sox won the first eight meetings.
With nine games left in their season, the Red Sox have a magic number of three to clinch the American League Wild Card berth. The Yankees have that same magic number to nail down the AL East.
Pitching matchup
BOS: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-5, 6.80 ERA)
Matsuzaka has given the Red Sox reason for optimism since coming off the disabled list, producing solid outings. After six innings of shutout baseball in his first game back against the Angels, Dice-K earned the win against the Orioles in his last outing, giving up eight hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings. He stretched his pitch count to 110, walking one and striking out five. This will be the first time Matsuzaka has pitched against the Yankees this season. In six career starts against New York, Matsuzaka is 3-2 with a 6.35 ERA.
Hit by a fifth-inning line drive, Sabathia may have been bruised, but once again, he could not be beaten. Backed by plenty of support, including a two-homer showing by Mark Teixeira, Sabathia moved into a tie for the Major League lead with his 18th win on Saturday at Safeco Field. He completed seven innings of work, holding the Mariners to one unearned run on four hits, walking two and striking out eight. The Yankees have won each of his past 10 starts. Tidbits
Lefty reliever Hideki Okajima won't pitch in this series, as he went back to Boston to get acupuncture therapy for an ailing right side. The injury is not serious. ... With his fourth-inning homer on Friday, Victor Martinez has a career-high hitting streak of 24 games. ... Dustin Pedroia's 16-game streak ended on Friday. ... Designated hitter David Ortiz has homered in his past three games. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• FOX On radio
• WEEI 850, SBN 1150 (Español) Up next
• Sunday: Red Sox (Paul Byrd, 1-2, 6.04) at Yankees (Andy Pettitte, 13-7, 4.15), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Red Sox (Josh Beckett, 16-6, 3.78) vs. Blue Jays (Scott Richmond, 7-10, 5.32), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Red Sox (Clay Buchholz, 7-3, 3.21) vs. Blue Jays (TBD), 7:10 p.m. ET
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
