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A look back at sports

Cardinals rough up Matsuzaka in Red Sox rout

LOS ANGELES
Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:50pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Boston pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was roughed up in his first start since returning from injury as the St. Louis Cardinals crushed the Red Sox 9-3 in interleague play on Saturday.

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Matsuzaka, placed on the disabled list on May 30 because of a mild rotator cuff strain, was charged with seven runs in just one inning, the shortest stint of his career.

Aaron Miles hit a two-run homer in the first inning that gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead at Fenway Park in Boston.

The Cardinals (44-32) added two more runs in the opening inning and St. Louis third baseman Troy Glaus hit a grand-slam in the second which highlighted the explosive start by St. Louis.

Matsuzaka, who came into the contest with an 8-0 record, loaded the bases in the second with two walks and an allowed single before being relieved by right-hander Chris Smith.

"We caught a break," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told reporters. "(Matsuzaka) was coming off the disabled list and you could tell he was rusty."

St. Louis starter Mitchell Boggs (2-0) did much better than his counterpart, lasting 5 1/3 innings and allowing three runs.

"I was excited about this opportunity," Boggs said. "This is one of the great places in sports. I didn't want to get too hyped up for it, because it's still my job to go out there and get guys out, but it was a special day for me."

Alex Cora had a two-run double in the second inning and J.D. Drew hit his 14th home run of the season in the sixth to account for the Red Sox (46-31) scoring.

Boston reliever Mike Timlin was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the game because of tendonitis in his left knee, making room for Matsuzaka to be activated.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner; Editing by Ed Osmond)



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