Salem Sox Announce Daisuke Matsuzaka as Game 1 Starter on Wednesday

Salem, VA - The Salem Red Sox, the Advanced Class-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox have announced today that Boston pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka will make a rehab start for Salem in Game 1 of the Carolina League Divisional playoffs against the Winston-Salem Dash on Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00PM at Wake Forest Baseball Stadium.

"This is a great way to kick off the 2009 post season for the Salem Sox," said Salem General Manager John Katz. "It's always exciting to have a major-leaguer on the field, and to have a pitcher the caliber of Daisuke Matsuzaka on the bump in game one is really something special."

Matsuzaka, 28, will be making his fourth rehab start in 2009 after injuring his throwing shoulder earlier this season. In 8 starts in 2009, Matsuzaka has compiled a 1-5 record with a 8.23 in 8 starts for Boston before being placed on the disabled list. In 2008, the right-hander was 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA for Boston in 29 starts. Matsuzaka's last rehab start was in Pawtucket on Friday, September 4 for the Triple-A Paw Sox where he threw 67 pitches over 4.1 innings giving up 4 hits and 2 earned runs against Syracuse.

Signed by Boston in December 2006, Matsuzaka has appeared in 69 games Major League games (all starts) in which he has compiled a 34-20 record with a 4.11 ERA (186 ER/407.1 IP), 389 strikeouts and 192 walks. He is ranked 3rd all-time in most strikeouts and most wins by pitcher in his first 2 years of Major League service.