BOSTON — After a 47-pitch outing on Monday, Daisuke Matsuzaka is ready to increase his pitch count.
Matsuzaka, who is battling soreness in his trapezius muscle, tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings over his first rehab start. He tossed 30 of his 47 pitches for strikes, allowed just four hits — all singles — and issued one walk.
“He feels really good,” Valentine said. “He’s going to give us more than that his next time out this weekend pitching for Triple-A –– 80-90 [pitches]. Hopefully, [he] feels good. Had a really, really good bullpen session.”
Matsuzaka last pitched on July 2, when he surrendered five runs and four hits along with two walks in one inning of work against the Athletics. Those around him attribute the neck pain to the year-long layoff from Tommy John surgery.
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