Despite Loss, Sox Pick Up Wildcard | Red Sox

Following a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the (soon-to-be) AL East champion New York Yankees, the immediate feeling left in the stands was one of Yankee domination following a combined 2-hit performance by Yankees pitching---most notably C.C. Sabathia. But in the long run, what Sox fans may take from Saturday afternoon's performance is the confidence that returning Japanese hurler exhibited against the league's premier lineup.

In his third start following nearly two months on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder, Matsuzaka pitched to Sox catcher Victor Martinez for the first time.

In typical Dice-K style, the right-hander worked in-and-out of jams all night, allowing just one run on six hits and five walks in seven innings. But through the first five innings, Yankee batters were held to 0 for 11 with RISP (runners in scoring position), stranding nine runners, including six on second or third.

Although stoic in emotion as per usual, the grinder continually fought back against a lineup that has no give, one through nine. His only blemish of the night: A Robinson Cano homer that barely left the ballpark---the only extra-basehit of the night as well as the only hard hit ball.

The most impressive aspect of the night had to be the progression of Matsuzaka. As the night progressed, the mindset of watching Dice-K went from nail-biting---working out of jams in the 2nd, 4th, and 5th--- to an awe-inspiring closing 7th inning in which Daisuke was dominant against some of the game's best.

Leading off for the Yanks was slugger Mark Teixeira, arguably the best first-baseman in the MLB. And whether it was his renewed arm-strength or just a good inning, the highly-touted ballplayer from Japan flashed the legendary brilliance---that he is known to show off on occasion---aggressively attacking and K'ing Mark Teixeira on three different pitches: the off-speed "gyroball", a roaring mid-nineties fastball and a biting, back-door slider to finish the account.

Following Teixeira, Dice-K continued the fight, showcasing excellent control of his fastball, fighting back from a 3-1 count to force A-Rod to ground-out to Mike Lowell. Matsuzaka would finish the seventh as well as his night getting fellow Japanese countryman Hideki Matsui with a fly-out to center.

And at night's end the score-book may have read 12 runners reaching base in seven innings, but for those who watched the game a different story could be told.

One month ago, Sox fans had groaned at the mere mention of his name, as the $100 million dollar pitcher had certainly not lived up to his billing in their highly fanatic and judgmental eyes.

Fans saw a ballplayer who had sacrificed foreign success over local, three-weeks of WBC glory for three months of the disabled list and rehabilitation. They saw a player who had recently overran his mouth with disregard to an organization that had shown him nothing but courtesy. Fans were fed up and Dice-K loyalists had scattered amidst his summer absence.

But three months later, here was the 29-year-old prodigy, pitching the night's contest against the league's fiercest lineup, in the toughest venue, and against the best team in the MLB, allowing just one run and finishing as strong as he had all year. And despite the loss, Sox fans still pondering the health of Jon Lester, the consistency of Josh Beckett, and the maturity of Clay Buchholz, had to marvel at the wonder that may just become their playoff wildcard: Daisuke Matsuzaka.

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