Daisuke Matsuzaka's 100th major league appearance Monday turned out to be far from memorable, as he was chased in the third inning after being torched for seven earned runs in the Boston Red Sox's 16-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Time to rub up a new one: Daisuke Matsuzaka waits for a new ball as Tampa Bay's Johnny Damon rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the first inning on Monday night. The Rays won 16-5. AP
Matsuzaka has started the season 0-2, allowing eight hits including home runs to Sam Fuld and Johnny Damon.
Matsuzaka issued a pair of walks and struck out just two before leaving to a round of boos at Fenway Park without getting a single out in the third.
The two-time World Baseball Classic MVP said he was making little progress from last year, when he went 9-6 with a 4.69 ERA. He won just 13 games over the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
''This is no different from last year,'' said Matsuzaka, who has started to become the subject of trade rumors in his fifth season with the Red Sox.
''I couldn't be sorrier to the team and to the fans for what happened. No one wants to be booed by his own fans. I've got to produce to turn things around. That's the bottom line.''
Matsuzaka was coming off another defeat Tuesday against the Cleveland Indians, when he gave up three runs in five innings of work. He regretted not throwing enough strikes then, and tried to adjust against Tampa Bay.
Matsuzaka did throw strikes on this night, spotting 32 of his 47 pitches in the zone. The bad news was that the Rays connected on most of them.
Sam Fuld went 4 for 6 with a two-run homer, drove in three runs and fell a single shy of the cycle to lead the Tampa Bay.
Johnny Damon had three hits, including a solo homer, and three RBIs, and John Jaso and Reid Brignac also drove in three runs apiece for the Rays.
Jeremy Hellickson (1-1) gave up two runs, five hits, walked five and struck out one in 5 1/3 innings to earn the win.
Mariners 8, Blue Jays 7
In Seattle, Luis Rodriguez fought off nine pitches from Shawn Camp before delivering a game-winning single, and the Mariners rallied from a seven-run deficit in the final three innings to stun Toronto.
Ichiro Suzuki was 2-for-4 with two runs and two base on balls.
Rangers 2, Tigers 0
In Detroit, Alexi Ogando outpitched Justin Verlander before leaving with a finger problem and Texas won with a bold strategy, beating the Tigers.
Athletics 2, White Sox 1 (10)
In Chicago, Kurt Suzuki hit a go-ahead home run in the 10th, and Oakland capitalized on Juan Pierre's dropped fly ball in the ninth to tie it.
Oakland designated hitter Hideki Matsui was 0-for-4.
Indians 4, Angels 0
In Anaheim, Mitch Talbot took a shutout into the ninth inning, and Asdrubal Cabrera and Matt LaPorta homered to lead Clevelabd to its eighth straight win.
The winning streak is the Indians' longest since a 10-game stretch in August 2008. Cleveland, coming off a sweep at Seattle, have started out 4-0 on the road for the first time since 1998 (6-0). Their 8-2 start overall is their best since 2002, when they opened 12-1.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Reds 3, Padres 2
In San Diego, Chris Heisey hit a two-run homer and Jonny Gomes added a solo shot, and Cincinnati spoiled the season debut of Padres ace Mat Latos.
Latos had been on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder. He lost his sixth straight start dating to September.
Cardinals 8, D-Backs 2
In Phoenix, Kyle McClellan got his first major-league win as a starter and drove in two runs with a pair of hits.
Lance Berkman hit two home runs and Jon Jay added a pinch-hit homer for St. Louis.
Cubs 5, Astros 4
In Houston, Starlin Castro, Darwin Barney and Marlon Byrd combined for seven hits, five runs and three RBIs.
Castro had three hits and scored three runs.
Rockies 7, Mets 6
In New York, Troy Tulowitzki homered and drove in three runs, and Carlos Gonzalez also had three RBIs.
Dodgers 6, Giants 1
In San Francisco, Clayton Kershaw shut down the Giants again with his big-breaking curveball, Rod Barajas homered and Los Angeles beat the Giants on a night when players from both teams denounced violence in the rivalry.
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