PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to the mound at Hadlock Field for the Portland Sea Dogs in his second rehab start of the season.
The 31 year old right-hander has not pitched in the major leagues since May of 2011. He had Tommy John Surgery and is slowly working his way back to form.
A sellout crowd gave Matsuzaka a heros welcome when he entered from the right field bullpen and cheered wildly after he struck out the first batter he faced.
Matsuzaka went four and two thirds innings for the Dogs, striking out seven, walking only one batter and yielding one run on three hits. Hit threw seventy-four pitches before being relieved with two out in the fifth.
The Japanese star said he was worried about the cold temperatures, despite brilliant sunshine the temp was in the low 50's, but said he was able to get his work in without any problems. He told the crowd of reporters after the game that he is making progress.
"Yes, I'm progressing well as I was able to things I wasn't able to do in my previous start," he stated, "but there are still a lot of areas I need to work on. That is going to be my focus for my up coming start."
Matsuzaka told the media that he does not know where or when he will make his next start, but there is a very good chance that he could return to the mound for Portland on Thursday.
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