daisuke matsuzaka

Scott Kazmir will pitch for the Tampa Bay Rays instead of James Shields in Game 5 of the AL championship series against the Boston Red Sox.

Rays manager Joe Maddon made the switch Wednesday morning. Kazmir will try to beat Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka and send Tampa Bay to the first AL pennant in franchise history.

The defending World Series champions trail three games to one in the best-of-seven series. The Rays beat Boston 13-4 on Tuesday night and have won three straight.

Scott Kazmir will pitch for the Tampa Bay Rays instead of James Shields in Game 5 of the AL championship series against the Boston Red Sox.

Rays manager Joe Maddon made the switch Wednesday morning. Kazmir will try to beat Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka and send Tampa Bay to the first AL pennant in franchise history.

The defending World Series champions trail three games to one in the best-of-seven series. The Rays beat Boston 13-4 on Tuesday night and have won three straight.

Daisuke Matsuzaka took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and Jed Lowrie had a sacrifice fly, giving the Boston Red Sox a 1-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of the AL championship series Friday night.

Matsuzaka struck out eight and walked four through six innings. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia kept Tampa Bay hitless by sliding on his knees to snag Carlos Pena's one-hopper for the...

Daisuke Matsuzaka has been picked by the Boston Red Sox to open the AL championship series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The 18-game winner will start Friday night in St. Petersburg, Fla., and will be followed in the rotation by 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett.

Jon Lester, who pitched a no-hitter against Kansas City on May 19, starts Game 3 when the series moves to Fenway Park on Monday.

Daisuke Matsuzaka lasted one inning against St. Louis _ the shortest outing of his brief career _ in his return from the disabled list on Saturday.

The Red Sox starter, who was placed on the DL on May 30 because of a mild rotator cuff strain, was charged with seven runs in one-plus inning.

Matsuzaka, who left his start May 27 in Seattle with the injury, gave up four runs in the first inning, allowing five hits _ including Aaron Miles' first homer of the season.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday by the Boston Red Sox, who opted to take a cautious approach after an MRI exam revealed a mild strain of his right rotator cuff.

Matsuzaka was examined in Boston by Dr. Thomas Gill. It is the first trip to the disabled list by Matsuzaka, who joined the Red Sox last season after pitching in Japan.