DAISUKE MATSUZAKA WITH THE BOSTON RED SOX IN 2008
Championship series:Oct 16
Matsuzaka already gave up runs in the 1st inning. He gave up 2 homers in just the 3rd inning. He wasn't able to take an out in the 5th inning and was taken off the mound losing a total 5 runs. However, the depressed mood of his team changed with David Ortiz's 3 run home run. In the 9th inning, thanks to a run by J.D. Drew, the Red Sox won 8 to 7. But in the end, the Red Sox lost to the Rays in the series with its defeat on Oct 19.

Championship series:Oct 10
Matsuzaka started the series. He had a shaky first inning but overcame it. He hurled a no run loss 7 0/3 innings. The Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 2 to 0.

Playoff series:Oct 4
Matsuzaka started. He hurled 5 innings and gave up 3 runs. The Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 7 to 5. It's the Red Sox 2nd win in the playoffs.

Sept 28
It's the final game of the season Matsuzaka started. He gave up 3 runs in 4 inning. The Red Sox lost the game to the NY Yankees 2 to 6. Matsuzaka finished the season with 18 wins 3 losses. But he is expected to pitch again in the playoffs.

September 21
Matsuzaka hurled 7 innings without giving up any runs. His team beat the Toronto BlueJays 3 to 0. It's Matsuzaka's 18th win.

September 15
Matsuzaka struck out his opponent every inning during the 5 innings he pitched. His team beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5 to 13. Matsuzaka earned his 17th win, exceeding the seasonal record for a Japanese held by Hideo Nomo.

Aug 29
It was one of the best games for Matsuzaka. He hurled 8 innings giving up just 2 base hits and no runs. His team beat the Chicago White Sox 8 to 0. Matsuzaka clinched his 16th win, tying with the most number of wins in 1 season by a Japanese with Hideo Nomo.

August 19
Matsuzaka hurled 5 innings, and gave up 2 runs. His team won 7 to against the Baltimore Orioles. Matsuzaka earned his 15th win.

August 14
Matsuzaka pitched a shut out 7 innings. His team clobbered the Texas Ranger 10 to 0 and he earned his 14th win.

August 9
Matsuzaka hurled 8 inning, and gave up only 1 run. He earned his 13th win in a 6 to 2 game against the Chicago White Sox.

August 3
Matsuzaka was awesome by taking all 3 batter out in 1 inning. He pitched 6 innings, struck out 8. He gave a 2 run homer, but he earned his 12th win in a 5 to 2 game against the Oakland Athletics.

July 22
Matsuzaka lasted 7 1/3 innings. He gave up 2 runs. He faced Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Marines, and lost a 2 base hit to him in the 8th inning. The Red Sox won 4 to 2 and Matsuzaka earned his 11th win.

July 14
Matsuzaka started and was able to pitch sell. He earned his 10th win in a 2 to 1 game against the Baltimore Orioles.

July 7
Matsuzaka hurled the longest number of innings this season. He went into the 8th inning. He did not lost a run but as his team hadn't scored a run either when he was off the mound, the 1 to 0 win over the Minnesota Twins was not accredited to him.

July 2
Matsuzaka this time gave up one run in 5 innings. He had the possbility of earning a win. But the Tampa Bay Rays reversed the game after he left the mound and won 7 to 6. This includes an RBI hit by Akinori Iwamura.

June 27
Matsuzaka had a marvelous start by striking out 3 in the first inning. There was a tense moment for him in the 3rd inning, but he pitched 5 inning without giving up a run. His team in the end won 6 to 1 over the Houston Astros.

June 21
Matsuzaka was finally back starting for his team since he was taken off the roster for a shoulder injury. But he gave up a 2 run home run in the first inning, and in all, he was taken responsible for his team losing 7 runs. He didn't last 2 innings. His team lost 3 to 9 to the St Louis Cardinals.

May 27
Matsuzaka was not pitching well. Nor was he fielding well. This seemed strange. Then in the start of the 5th inning, he called it quit for the day. He seems to have pain in his right shoulder. In the end, the Red Sox lost to the Seattle Mariners 3 to 4.

May 22
Matsuzaka was not stable on the mound. He pitched 5 2/3 innings. But his team won 11 to 8 against the Kansas City Royals.

May 10
Matsuzaka did not have an easy game. In the 2nd inning, he walked a batter with bases loaded. He lost another run in the 5th inning. But his team went ahead in the 7th inning. Matsuzaka earned his 6th win in a 5 to 2 game against the Minnesota Twins.

May 5
Matsuzaka walked a batter every inning. But he managed to pitch 5 innings giving up only a run. His team beat the Detroit Tiger 6 to 3, and Matsuzaka earned his 5th game. But after the game he expressed dissatisfaction towards his performance.

Apr 30
Its been a while since Matsuzaka started as he was down with a flu. He pitched well throwing 7 innings without giving up a run. But Hideki Okajima was unable to keep the game scoreless. So Matsuzaka no longer had the right to win. The Red Sox however in the end won 2 to 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Apr 18
Thanks to a grand slam by David Ortiz, Matsuzak picked up his 4th win. Even though he himself gave up a 2 run in the 6th inning. The Red Sox beat the Texas Ranger 11 to 3.

Apr 13
Dice-K did not pitch well. He lost 4 runs in 5 innings. He gave up a walk in every inning. But still the Red Sox beat the NY Yankees 8 to 5, and Matsuzaka earned his 3rd win.

Apr 8
The only time Dice-K faced trouble was in the 6th inning. He had the bases full. But he avoided from losing a run. He hurled in all 6 2/3 innings. He struck out a hitter every inning or in all 7. His team won 5 to 0 over the Detroit Tigers, and Dice-K earned his 2nd win.

Apr 1
In the 2nd inning, Dice-K gave up a homer. But he pitched a steady 6 2/3 innings. The Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 2 to 1, and Matsuzaka won his first game of the season.

Mar 26
In the 2nd game at the Tokyo Dome, in the 3rd inning,the Oakland Athletics Emil Brown slammed a 3 run homer in the 3rd inning. In the 6th, Manny Ramirez's solo home run was hoped to boost his team's spirit, but the Red Sox lost 1 to 5 to the Athletics. Matsuzaka watched the game from the bench as both sides played.

Mar 25
There were worries Matsuzaka would not be able to join his team in time for the opener. But his wife gave birth to their 2nd child early enough for him to prepare for his Tokyo trip. He was given the honor to start the game. He gave up 2 runs in the first inning including a homer by Mark Ellis. But he improved later and hurled in all 5 innings with the Red Sox ahead of the Oakland Athletics. However, taking over, Kyle Snyder gave up a 2 run homer to Jack Hannahan. The see-saw game was ended in the 10th inning, with Manny Ramirez's 2 run double. It ended a 6 to 5 game.


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