Daisuke Matsuzaka Overpowering For Boston...Red Sox 4 Mariners 2

Tuesday night in Seattle was a night that Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka flat-out shined. The Red Sox defeated the Mariners by a score of 4-2 on the strength of seven and one third five hit, two run innings from their Japanese starter. He only allowed three bases on balls, which is good for him, and sixty one of his ninety nine pitches were strikes. He was great, and if he keeps pitching with this form and this kind of control, he'd be a lock to win twenty games. With the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays' loss, the world champions climbed to within one half game of that perplexingly good ball club, and for a while, it looked like Daisuke would do the undoable (at least for him)...and that is pitch a complete game. Here's what he and manager Tito Francona had to say after the game, Boston's second victory in a row after three straight losses to the AL West leaders, the LA Angels...

"If I couldn't throw a complete game today I don't know when I'm going to do it," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. "Facing off against Ichiro I wanted to make good pitches to good spots," Matsuzaka said.

"I think the one thing we've noticed with Lester and Dice-K, the extra days off have done them some good," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "But when they've gone out in the eighth, the ups and downs seem to have gotten to them a little bit which I think is understandable. If our starters get us deep like that we should be OK," Francona said. "Sometimes your pitching gives your offense time to kind of get straightened out. If we get deep in games on a consistent basis we should be fine."

Peter here, and fine we shall be. JD Drew had two hits, including a home run. He was joined by Mike Lowell, who also had two safeties. Dustin Pedroia had one hit, marking his 23rd straight road game with at least one hit. Hideki Okajima recorded the last two outs of the eighth inning and Jonathon Papelbon earned his 30th save with a nine pitch 1-2-3 ninth. It was a good effort by all.

This afternoon at 4:40 pm EDT, those world champion Boston Red Sox will go for the three game sweep over Seattle before a day off and a trip home to start a nine game homestand. They will play the third place Yankees, who won again Tuesday. We'll be ready for 'em. You can click on the title of this post for more on Daisuke's fine effort, and as always, your comments are welcome and will be replied to. BE WELL...forever.