BOSTON, June 19 (UPI) -- Kenshin Kawakami allowed two hits in six innings Friday and was backed up by perfection from the bullpen, pacing Atlanta to an 8-2 inter-league win over Boston.

BALTIMORE, May 30 (UPI) -- The Boston Red Sox Friday placed unbeaten right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list because of a mild rotator cuff strain.

TAMPA, Fla., March 17 (UPI) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka will be the opening day pitcher of the Boston Red Sox when they begin the 2008 season in his native Japan, the team said Monday.

CLEVELAND, July 24 (UPI) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka threw seven shutout innings and Mike Lowell drove in the only run Tuesday as the Boston Red Sox nipped Cleveland 1-0.

ARLINGTON, Texas, May 26 (UPI) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka suffered through a five-run fourth inning Friday night but still won his sixth straight decision, as the Boston Red Sox beat Texas, 10-6.

BOSTON, May 14 (UPI) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched his first complete Major League game and Julio Lugo hit a three-run triple as the Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers, 7-1.

TORONTO, April 17 (UPI) -- Gustavo Chacin, pitching 6 2/3 innings, bested Japanese star Daisuke Matsuzaka Tuesday to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox.

BOSTON, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Star pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan Thursday signed a six-year, multi-million-dollar contract with the Boston Red Sox. The Boston Herald reported that, with incentives, the 26-year-old Matsuzaka could earn as much as $60 million.

BOSTON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Hideki Okajima, a left-handed Japanese relief pitcher, has signed with the Boston Red Sox, the club announced Thursday.

BOSTON, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- The Boston Red Sox have won negotiating rights to try to sign 26-year-old Japanese star pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.