Dice-K Returns, Sox Fall to Mets

By KC Downey in Featured, Red Sox, Top Story ⋅ May 23, 2009 at 12:34am ⋅ Post a comment

Daisuke Matsuzaka made his long awaited return to the mound Friday night in his first start since April 14. Dice-K spent more than a month on the DL due to right arm fatigue, which stemmed from his stupid involvment in the World Baseball Classic for Team Japan. Of course, in Dice-K’s return, he gets to square off against the best pitcher in the major leagues, Johan Santana.

Dice-K held his own against the Mets, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks in five innings pitched. Meanwhile, despite three Mets errors, Santana was very effective, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits in seven strong innings. He tossed eight K’s and earned the win in the 5-3 victory for the Mets.

Sox Stud of the Game

Jason Varitek, C: Varitek continued his strong season, going 2-4 with a solo HR (his eighth). He also reached on an error that scored two runs in the fourth inning. Credit Tek for hitting it hard, as he was responsible for all three Red Sox runs, though only got credit for one.

Sox Dud of the Game

David Ortiz, DH: I’m going to call Ortiz out for going 0-4 with three strikeouts and a double play, but he’s a lefty who typically doesn’t fare well against lefthanded pitching. This is especially true when the lefthander you’re facing is Johan Santana. Still, I would’ve liked to have seen Ortiz with a single, instead of arguing with the umpire on a called third strike.

Game Notes

W: Johan Santana (6-2)
L: Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-2)

The Mets have committed 12 errors in Johan’s nine starts this year, and have just 35 all season.
Old enemy Gary Sheffield homered to start the scoring for the Mets in the second inning.
Kevin Youkilis went 0-3, dropping his average to .390. He also was drilled with a pitch in the fifth inning, and didn’t appear to enjoy it.
Dustin Pedroia stayed hot, going 2-4 to improve his average to .323.