Matsuzaka Fires Gem in Much-Hyped Debut

Red Sox, A's take the field in Tokyo

(NEWSER) - The sun was just rising in Boston today as the Red Sox began their World Series title defense by taking on the Oakland Athletics half a world away. Many American fans were still in bed, but Japanese aficionados were paying rapt attention, the Christian Science Monitor reports. The Sox have been selling out exhibition games all week, playing for baseball-crazed fans with a decidedly different style than they're used to. More»

Team concedes fans may have trouble paying Fenway premium

(NEWSER) - Times are tough, and the Boston Red Sox know it—in a nod to fans, the team froze ticket prices at Fenway yesterday for the first time in 14 years, the Globe reports. At an average $48.80, tickets are still some of baseball's most expensive, but "We do not want to be the ballpark of the rich and famous," says a team exec. More»

Rays at the head of the class—Rockies, Marlins at the back

(NEWSER) - Report card time! Here’s how the rambunctious kids of MLB are doing so far, in Yahoo Sports’ Steven Henson’s estimation. A students—Rays, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, White Sox Particular kudos go to the Rays, the poor kid who went to the head of the class. B students—Cardinals, Brewers, Twins, Phillies, Yankees, Athletics, Marlins, Orioles The Cardinals have a slight edge in the wildcard race. The Yankees, meanwhile, barely scrape together a B. More»

Bottom of lineup is major source of power against the Twins

(NEWSER) - The Boston Red Sox got an unexpected power surge from the bottom of their lineup to help Daisuke Matsuzaka remain undefeated with a 5-2 victory over Minnesota on Saturday. Coco Crisp and Jed Lowrie hit back-to-back homers to lead off the seventh inning and Matsuzaka (6-0) gave up two runs and six hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings for the Sox. More»

(NEWSER) - Mike Lowell hit one of Boston's three homers for his first RBIs this season, and the Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-3 Monday behind a wild Daisuke Matsuzaka. Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz also connected for Boston, which won its fourth straight game and sent the Tigers to their fourth consecutive defeat. More»