Red Sox beat A's in season opener

Wednesday 26th March, 06:42 AM JST

TOKYO —

Daisuke Matsuzaka left after five innings because of a high pitch count, Hideki Okajima threw a scoreless ninth and Manny Ramirez hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the 10th as the Boston Red Sox edged the Oakland Athletics 6-5 in 10 innings in the major league season opener Tuesday in Tokyo. Ramirez drove in four runs with two doubles, the second of which bounced off the center-field wall and gave the defending World Series champions the lead for good in the top of the 10th.

‘‘We came over here from the states to put on a nice show and we did. The A’s played great but we won,’’ Ramirez said. Brandon Moss, who started after JD Drew was scratched with back tightness, also made great contributions to the Red Sox’s come-from-behind victory at Tokyo Dome, hitting a go-ahead single in the sixth and a game-tying solo homer with one out in the ninth off A’s closer Huston Street. Matsuzaka’s hopes of getting the win proved short-lived. He allowed two runs and two hits in a 95-pitch outing, walking five and striking out six. Okajima (1-0) got the win after working a hitless ninth.

Jon Lester will start Wednesday’s game for the Red Sox against Rich Harden on the hill for the A’s.

13 Comments

Yikes at 08:39 AM JST - 26th March

Too bad no one outside Tokyo Dome got to watch the end of the game on TV because they stopped broadcasting in the top of the 10th inning (soon after the winning runs were scored)to show some variety show instead. Insulting to the game of baseball and pretty much supports the claim of many critics back home that they should not be opening the season in a country who probably doesn't appreciate the pastime's "Opening day". I know people who woke up at 3am on the west coast to watch the game. Imagine if they stopped broadcasting during the 10th inning in the US to show some morning news show? It would have been armageddon.
phillybuchan at 09:22 AM JST - 26th March

yeh i agree total bs I was watching the game in a bar with my friend when the screen went black,the guy who made the decision in japan should be fired!!!!10 friggen minutes who cares about some bs variety show!!! I will be sending an email to major league baseball and the loser japanese tv station
Altria at 09:47 AM JST - 26th March

Which station was showing the game? The Sox-Giants game on Nippon TV was cut off as well.

I've noticed that the TV stations finally seem to be broadcasting full games over the last couple of years, even when they run over time. Hope they're not back to their old tricks again this year.
Yikes at 10:07 AM JST - 26th March

I meant no one in Japan (except those in Tokyo Dome) were able to see the end of the game because they stopped the broadcast. It's all about advertising here in Japan and with big wigs like Dentsu and Hakuhodo in conjunction with sponsors who have paid to make and broadcast that variety show - during that time exact time slot - the network really has no choice but to cut the game. All in all an insult to MLB baseball and Opening Day. Forget the money MLB, respect the game and play games like this where they should be played - the other side of the Pacific.
chouwa at 10:43 AM JST - 26th March

Actually, A ton of people outside of Japan couldn't watch the Red Sox-A's game too, since for some *`@+:; reason, DirecTV had a mass of problems. That's a lot of money wasted.
DubyaKiller at 10:53 AM JST - 26th March

A high pitch count ? After a shaky first couple of innings Matsuzaka got back into his groove and was pitching well when Francona took him out after 5. He could have stayed another inning and the guy who replaced him gave up a 2 run homer almost immediately. I never understand why coaches replace pitchers who have found their rhythm, unless you have got to the 7th or the 8th.
BeatlesFan at 11:05 AM JST - 26th March

I was taping the game to watch when I got home. What a rip-off in that it was cut off with the game tied.

The bigger crime is that Dice-K's new Aquarius CM was not aired as I show up in it as Matsuzaka's coach. Oh, well. Perhaps it will be shown tonight.
DubyaKiller at 11:07 AM JST - 26th March

Coach BeatlesFan Did you take Matsuzaka out after 5 in the new Aquarius cm ?
BeatlesFan at 12:01 PM JST - 26th March

Nah, he's the hero in the CM.
eresay at 12:11 PM JST - 26th March

Actually just a slight correction, I and other cable TV subscribers here in Japan were able to see the game in its entirety on NTV's cable channel G + . For years I got tired of baseball games getting cut off early so I signed up to Sky Perfect a few years back. Got tired of throwing things at the TV and complaining to the networks.
DubyaKiller at 12:37 PM JST - 26th March

eresay I called SkyPerfect yesterday and they told me they had no schedule for the Sox A's game ?
eresay at 01:31 PM JST - 26th March

Well funny that cause I watched it and its scheduled to be telecast again from 630pm tonight on G +, thats Channel 309 on your tuner box.

If you dont believe me, here is the link to the G + website

http://www.ntv.co.jp/G/

Click on the "weekly schedule" tab (in kanji next to 3/24~3/30)

Remember Sky Perfect is just the service provider, I wouldn't expect them to be fully aware of all of the content of the channels they carry. If you're not connected, you've got about 6 hours before the first pitch! Good luck!!
westurn at 11:14 PM JST - 27th March

As Japan's economy reaches the lower dredges, you all best get used to seeing ball games "cut off" in the middle of play. Japan's decisions are strictly based on financial agreements with absolutely no care in the world for the viewer. Now what you all need to do is go after the sponsors. I for one will be sending a letter to the Yomiuri and will not be buying any Yomiuri newspapers. They promoted the game heavily up until the first pitch... then it seems they just bailed out ! Bait and switch from where I come from !

As for Matsuzaka. What a mess ! You would have thought after last years meltdown and piss poor final outings that he would have come into camp in shape. But no... 5 walks, 2 runs, and a horrific pitch count that had him outta the game by the 5th ! Same damn thing he did last year.. and he was throwing in front of his hommies ! Brace yerself for another up and down year by "Slice and Dice" K ! I look for another dead arm come July. Boston fans take note, run the guy out on a rail if he doesn't win 20 ! Right now, he looks like the same flabby tub of goo he was last year.