BOSTON –– The next time out, Daisuke Matsuzaka needs to showcase longevity in his start.
During Sunday's outing for Pawtucket, the hurler took a step back, yielding five hits and four runs –– only one of them was earned –– to go along with one walk and three strikeouts. He threw 79 pitches, with 45 of them going for strikes.
"Hopefully, [we'll] get five innings and 90-something pitches," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. "The first two innings [in his last start], he threw the ball a lot better than he has. I believe it was the first two innings. When there was an error made behind him and a couple of guys got on base, he lost a little of his command.
[PawSox manger] Arnie [Beyeler] thought it was the best he’s seen him so far."
Matsuzaka is scheduled to start on Friday in Rochester at 7:05 p.m. against the Rochester Red Wings. It'll be his third rehab start in Triple-A after experiencing soreness in his trapezius muscle on July 2.
This season, Matsuzaka has posted a 0-3 record with a 6.65 ERA to go along with 20 strikeouts and eight walks for the Red Sox.
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