Mariners 4
After snapping a 7 game losing streak on the road yesterday, the Red Sox lost a roller coaster of a game last night.
Facing the struggling Mariners, Daisuke Matsuzaka looked primed for his 9th win without a loss, but left the game before starting the 5th. He ended the 4th fielding a ground ball and grabbing his right hip, but said after the game that it was shoulder fatigue that knocked him out of the game."I wasn’t at my best. After pitching the fourth inning, I definitely felt there was something wrong, and I had a conversation with the coaching staff,” he said. “I went out for the fifth inning to give it a try, but felt it was best to stop there."
“With so much of the season left, I thought that it would be best to come out of the game at that point.”
Matsuzaka also admitted that he experienced a similar "injury" back in 2000 or 2001 with the Seibu Lions, but pitched through it with no ill effects. Just like back then, Dice-K could tell in his bullpen session that something wasn't right.
"Even before I went up on the mound, I felt that things were a little bit off in the bullpen," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. "I wouldn't go so far as to call it discomfort.
"Since this is something I have experienced in the past, I’m not overly concerned with the situation right now,” he said, before bowing and politely cutting off questions.
Bottom Line: Francona said they plan to "err on the side of caution" so don't be surprised if Matsuzaka misses his next start this Monday. Clay Buchholz pitched four innings in Pawtucket on Sunday, and is technically able to come off the DL today (May 28th) but it's unlikely that he will be the guy to fill in on Sunday. Justin Masterson hasn't pitched since his last ML outing on May 20th, so he could be an option... David Pauley (6-2, 3.09, 30 SO) and Charlie Zink (6-2, 2.59, 39 SO) could also get the call this weekend.
2 comments:
All the additional pitches he had to throw thanks to his outrageous number of walks have finally caught up to him. We saw it coming sooner or later. I guess better sooner than later.
I was thinking the same thing SA... I'm actually quite surprised by the lack of jokes regarding the walks...
I just pray that this isn't due to the high number of pitches he's thrown in his career... he's young, but not that young - and he's been pitching for a long time...
BL: A week off will do him good - The he can try his luck again vs SEA at home...
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