Matsuzaka Wins His 15th Game...Boston 7 Baltimore 2...Yaz And Beckett Updates

Daisuke Matsuzaka had another pitchfilled great start Tuesday evening at Fenway Park South in Baltimore, more commonly known as Camden Yards. He threw 105 pitches while going just 5 innings, but he only surrendered Batimore's sole 2 runs. It was 5 walks and deep pitch counts that limited him to only 5 innings of work, but his 15th win was secured, and that's with only 2 losses. His ERA stands at 2.77. Here's what he and teammate Pedey Pedroia had to say after the game...

"Whether I allow hits or I allow walks, I always think that the important thing is not to allow the runners to score," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. "That's the way I thought last year and it's still the same this year. I think I'd like to reach 15 wins every year, if possible," Matsuzaka said. "It's not that easy to get those wins."

"He finds a way to win. That's all you can ask from a starting pitcher," teammate Dustin Pedroia said. "He's not giving in and we know that. Sometimes it's frustrating, but it keeps you on your toes."

Pedey is exactly right. Daisuke might be the best pitcher in all of baseball when it comes to getting himself INTO a jam and then somehow get out of it with minimal damage. I'd love to see him pitch a game when his pinpoint control that is so often missing is in full force. He'd go 9 innings and give up a run or two, saving his bullpen in the process. But, as they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Matsuzaka has been getting enough offensive support most of the time, and that's why he's won 15 of his 17 decisions. No complaints from me, that's for sure. Javy Lopez, Justin Masterson and Little Manny Delcarmen provided 4 innings of scoreless relief, allowing a TOTAL of only 3 additional hits. Great job from the 'pen, no doubt about it!

In other Red Sox news, Yaz had triple bypass surgery Tuesday afternoon. The most up-to-date details (as of 6am EDT Wed.) are in the post directly below this one. And Josh Beckett's next start was moved back to this coming Tuesday. He has been experiencing numbness in his right pinky and ring fingers. We all hope it's nothing serious because we sure need him to mount any kind of 2008 stretch run. ANY KIND. Good luck, Josh.

To everyone, have a great Hump Day Wednesday as we move to the final 11 days of August. My goodness, where did summer go? Oh, the Yankees moved back to 12 games behind the first place Rays and six behind our Sox in the Wild Card quest with a 2-1 loss against those pitching tough Toronto Blue Jays. Johnny Damon had two fly balls tick off his glove in centerfield and fall for hits, something you won't see Coco or Jacoby do. The pinstriped ones are slowly but quickly running out of time. Please don't forget to click on this post's title for more details about last night's win, Yaz and Josh. Much to worry about, but SO many reasons to be happy...that's the way we like it, I think. As always, BE WELL.