Matsuzaka - First Japanese pitcher to win a World Series Game

Denver, CO, October 27, 2007– Nikkan Sports News

Matsuzaka not only pitched, but contributed a base hit to his World Series Game 3 victory over Colorado Rockies. He was the first Japanese pitcher in MLB history to start and win a World Series game. He pitched a powerful 5 and 1/3 innings allowing only two runs. He also knocked in two runs with a timely single to left field.. Matsuzaka got the upper hand in his first match up with Kazuo Matsui, the Rockies infielder, allowing only one hit in three at bats. Matsuzaka is the only pitcher to win a Japan Series game and a World Series game. If the Red Sox win the Game 4, the “one hundred million dollar right hand” will get a World Series Championship in his rookie year.

Matsuzaka was relived after climbing the Rocky Mountains to be the first Japanese pitcher to win a World Series game. The air was a cold 7 degree Celsius, the fifth coldest game in World Series history. The dry mountain air made it difficult to handle the ball. Despite those problems, though, Matsuzaka pitched 5 and 1/3 innings and did his job. Matsuzaka helped the Red Sox win its third consecutive games to get closer to their second Championship in four years.

Matsuzaka

“I felt more pressure in the previous game. (ALCS Game 7) I pitched a little more relaxed today. My team was on a wining streak and I didn’t let them down. So I feel relieved.”

The Coors Field is located 1,600 meters above sea level, which makes it easier to give up a lot of hits. Matsuzaka focused on locating his pitches low. His fastest pitch was 94 mph and he utilized his fastballs against Rockies offense. He gave up only three hits. He threw as well as he could to win in this short series.

In the first inning match up with Matsui, a sempai (a senior) from the Seibu Lions, Matsuzaka allowed a hit to right field but Matsui was retired on a double play started by Matsuzaka with excellent fielding as a pitcher. In the third inning, Matsuzaka struck Matsui out swinging with a low outside fastball. This was the highest-level match up between two great Japanese players in the World Series.

In the third inning, Matsuzaka also contributed to the offense with his first MLB hit. The team was leading by three runs, with two outs and the bases loaded. Matsuzaka struck out on a breaking ball in his first at bat, but he remembered the pitch. “In my first at bat, I was waiting for a fastball. But Mike Lowell said, ‘they will throw breaking balls even to a pitcher’ so I was waiting for a cut ball.” Matsuzaka swung at the first pitch and hit it between shortstop and the third scoring two runs. Matsuzaka helped his victory with his own bat.

Matsuzaka was very upset about stepping down in the sixth inning, with one out after allowing two back- to-back walks and pitch count exceeding 100.

Matsuzaka

“I thought that walks were wasteful. But I didn’t think that they would take me down since we had a big enough lead.”

But it was a must win game in the short series with no room for mistakes. Matsuzaka needed to let it pass and grab the historical victory as the first Japanese pitcher.

One more win and the Red Sox will be on the top of the world. Matsuzaka won 15 games in regular season and two more in the post-season. As a “100 million dollars right hand” pitcher from overseas, he showed everything what he had throughout his first season. “It’s not the momentum. This team is really strong.” Matsuzaka came from Japan and determined to roll the dice with Red Sox and now the World Series Championship is within his reach.

Written by Takaaki Yamauchi

Interpreted by Akisa Fukuzawa

This article was published on the Nikkan Sports News on October 29, 2007.

［November 1, 2007 7:5］