Dice-K's Debut

SI Staff | Apr 6, 2007

Dice-K's Debut

Red Sox 4, Royals 1

AP

Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka warms up in the bullpen before making his major league debut.

Red Sox 4, Royals 1

AP

Catcher Jason Varitek makes a trip to the mound before the start of the game.

Red Sox 4, Royals 1

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

Dice-K threw 108 pitches and struck out 10 batters in his first major league win, allowing six hits, one walk and one run over seven innings.

Red Sox 4, Royals 1

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

A fan holds up a sign in both Japanese and English.

Red Sox 4, Royals 1

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

Dice-K struck out the side in the fourth inning.

Red Sox 4, Royals 1

AP

Dice-K throws during the first inning of a game against the Royals.

Red Sox 4, Royals 1

AP

Matsuzaka fields a ground ball hit by the Royals' Emil Brown, resulting in a double play to end the first inning.

Red Sox 4, Royals 1

AP

Daisuke walks to the dugout after pitching the first inning, perhaps disappointed at having no chance of a no-hitter.

Red Sox 4, Royals 1

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Fans hold up a banner that reads "Dice-K", left, and his number "18", right.

Red Sox 4, Royals 1

AP

Matsuzaka rubs down the ball as the Royals' David DeJesus rounds third base after hitting a home run in the sixth inning.

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

Fans hold up Dice-K banner.