Daisuke Matsuzaka is able to find answers, pitches 5 2/3 innings allowing just 1 ER

After Daisuke Matsuzaka gave up a double, a strange fielder’s choice, a popout, and an RBI single in his first four batters Tuesday night, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine made a visit to the mound. Matsuzaka’s pitch count was at 21, but he had given up just one run.

It hadn’t reached the point it got to in the first inning of his previous start, when he gave up three runs on three hits and a walk against Miami, or the start before that against the Cubs when three walks and a hit cost him two runs.  He had done himself no real damage.

So Valentine asked the pitcher three questions.

“Do you believe in yourself?’’

“Are you ready to go?’’

“Can you forget about the stuff that happened?’’

Matsuzaka, said Valentine, replied, “Yes, yes, yes.’’

He ultimately turned in 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in the Red Sox’ 5-1 win over the Blue Jays at Fenway Park, retiring 13 of the final 16 hitters he faced. “He pitched pretty well,’’ Valentine said. “He gave up one run in that inning . . . that’s good pitching. That’s his best effort yet.’’

After shaking off his first-inning issues, he dueled with Toronto starter Aaron Laffey, who tossed six scoreless innings but ended up with a no-decision. “There were a few hits that dropped in here and there, but to get out of that inning with just one run was encouraging,’’ Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. “It was a positive step, especially considering how my previous starts had gone.’’…

via Boston Red Sox – Matsuzaka is able to find answers – The Boston Globe.