Matsuzaka out with shoulder ailment

BOSTON, June 21 (UPI) -- The Boston Red Sox have placed starter Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder.

The move was made after image testing showed no structural damage.

Boston Manager Terry Francona said on the team's Web site late Saturday that his star right-hander is experiencing "weakness" in the shoulder and could miss extended time.

"This is not going to be a two-week DL," Francona said. "We're going to have to figure this out. We have a lot of work ahead of us trying to get him back to being Daisuke. We'll try to do what's in his best interest, and to be honest, I think we're still trying to figure that out."

Since pitching for Japan at the World Baseball Classic in the spring, Matsuzaka has had problems reverting back to his once dominant form.

He is just 1-5 with an 8.23 ERA in eight starts (35 innings) this season with 59 hits and 18 walks.