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Red Sox Rely On Dice-K

By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: October 11, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Any hopes the Rays had of continuing their postseason roll ended Friday by the toss of a Dice.

Boston pitcher Daisuke "Dice-K" Matsuzaka shut down the Tampa Bay offense by not allowing a run through seven-plus innings to give the defending World Series champion Red Sox a 2-0 victory and a 1-0 lead in the American League Championship Series.

Despite coming into Friday's start with a career 5.11 ERA in five playoff starts since coming over from Japan, Matsuzaka remained undefeated on the road this season, running his record to 10-0 away from Fenway Park.

"Dice-K carried us tonight," Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia said.

Matsuzaka, who struggled in his only start of the ALDS against the Angels, got off to a shaky start by walking fellow Japan native Akinori Iwamura to start the first. Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford also walked as the Rays loaded the bases with two outs.

But Cliff Floyd grounded out to second to end the inning, sparking a masterful performance by Matsuzaka.

"Just as usual, I had a tough time getting going, but after the first inning I got a good sweat going, and after that I felt pretty comfortable," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter.

After escaping the first unscathed, the sometimes-erratic right-hander retired the next five batters he faced and 15 of 16 as he carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, flirting with a feat only accomplished by one other player in baseball history.

After Carl Crawford delivered a line-drive single to right, however, Yankees immortal Don Larsen continues to reign as the only pitcher in major-league history to not allow a hit in a postseason game after tossing a perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.

Following the hit, Matsuzaka wound up fighting to stay in the game as Floyd lined a single to the left-center gap to send Crawford to third with none out.

A shallow fly ball by Dioner Navarro, a strikeout by Gabe Gross and a fielder's choice by Jason Bartlett kept the Rays off the board and Matsuzaka in line to continue his dominant night.

His outing came to an end after back-to-back singles by Iwamura and B.J. Upton to start the eighth. He allowed four hits and four walks while striking out nine for his third career postseason victory.

"He just seems to have that knack for making pitches when he has to," Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie said. "He gets himself into trouble and he finds a way to get himself out of trouble. It kind of makes it nerve-wracking to play behind him, but it's fun."

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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