Remember when Daisuke Matsuzaka was that big pickup for the Boston Red Sox back in 2007? The once-hailed Japanese pitcher made his 2013 debut with the New York Mets by giving up five runs in the first two innings against the Detroit Tigers on Friday.
Dice-K started off with giving up a home run against Torii Hunter and keeping Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder stranded on the bases in the first inning.
He couldn’t keep the Tigers contained in the second inning.
"Omar Infante led off with an infield single and Jackson walked with two outs. Hunter hit a ground-rule double that bounced over the 408 sign in straightaway center field to put the Tigers up 2-1.Cabrera crushed the next pitch, a 91 mph fastball that he sent soaring just inside the left-field foul pole for his 41st home run."
That made it 5-1 Tigers, but the rest of the night went a little better for Dice-K.
"Matsuzaka settled in from there and did not allow another baserunner. He retired his final 10 batters and was charged with five runs on six hits over five innings."
Detroit would add one more run in the seventh inning, a solo shot by Austin Jackson and the team’s third home run of the night, to eventually win it by a 6-1 final.