TOKYO —

Japanese fans hope that Daisuke Matsuzaka will stay on the mound until he gets the final out when he starts the major league season opener between the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday, but that is an unlikely scenario.

‘‘It’s opening day. He’s pitching in a country where he grew up. There is no doubt he’s gonna have some little bit more adrenaline. But we want to make sure, not just Daisuke, everybody is prepared to do what we’ve asked to do,’’ Red Sox manager Terry Francona told a press conference Monday at Tokyo Dome.

‘‘If we are playing this game in June, I’d love to send him out there and let him try to pitch a complete game, but we probably can’t shoot for that now. ‘‘We don’t want to do something to damage August or September, even beyond that,’’ he said.

Francona believes the first two regular-season games in Tokyo should not be blown out of proportion, despite the media frenzy here. Even if his team is the 2007 World Series champion.

‘‘You’ve got two games in a place with so much excitement, but we try to prepare like a normal series even if we are not in a normal place to play,’’ he said. ‘‘When the media and fans are building up games, as coaches and the manager we try to bring it back down.’’

Three days ago, Matsuzaka said he is the one who wants to pitch into late innings most, particularly in front of Japanese fans.

The former Seibu Lions ace threw complete games in more than half of his starts in each of his final two seasons in Japan, only to face culture shock in the major leagues, where many starting pitchers are often limited to around 100 pitches a start.

Matsuzaka is set to become the first Japanese opening-day starter in the majors since Hideo Nomo in 2004 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Last year, Matsuzaka lost his only start against the A’s, allowing two runs and seven hits in seven innings in a 2-0 loss. He struck out eight and walked two at McAfee Coliseum.

In a separate press conference Monday, A’s opening-day starter Joe Blanton showed his readiness for a pitching duel with Matsuzaka.

‘‘I pitch my game. I will do my best to be able to compete against him,’’ Blanton said.

A’s manager Bob Geren, attending the press conference with the right-hander, called Matsuzaka one of the best pitchers in the American League and added, ‘‘so is my pitcher sitting right next to me.’’

Blanton went 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA in 34 starts last season, while Matsuzaka was 15-12 with a 4.40 ERA in 32 starts.

1 Comments

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  wasabiburger at 11:51 AM JST - 25th March

  no way he is going to be able to go the distance. this is the first game. this would ruin the rest of the season. unless he gets through the first 7 innings with like 60 pitches. no way this is happening. who the hell thought of this article??? horrible topic.

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