G62: Diamondbacks 5, Red Sox 1

The Return of Mike Timlin was everything I expected it to be.

Red Sox trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth, men on first and second, no outs. Timlin's first pitch is bunted out in front of the plate. Timlin grabs it and throws over Kevin Youkilis's head at first base. It's a three-base error, the two inherited runs score (surprise!) and Arizona is now up 4-1.

His first pitch!

Timlin then walks the next guy -- no sign of Francona, of course -- but then gets the next two batters on pop-ups. However, a single brings in a run that actually gets charged to Timlin, but because of his three-base error a few minutes ago, it's unearned.

So, yeah, he turned a tight 2-1 game into a 5-1 hole in the top of the ninth, thus virtually assuring a loss, but look on the bright side -- he lowered his ERA by 64 points.

***

Daisuke Matsuzaka (4.63, 96 ERA+) / Randy Johnson (3.78, 116 ERA+)

Redsox.com:

Matsuzaka made his seventh quality start when he gave up two runs on seven hits over seven innings in a 2-0 loss to the Oakland A's on Tuesday. The bad news is that he threw 130 pitches, the most by a Red Sox hurler since last April.

The [Big Eunuch] allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings in his last start. He has hit his stride of late throwing six shutout innings in his start before against the Phillies in Philadelphia. Johnson missed the start prior to the one in Philly with tendinitis in his left forearm, but it has not bothered him since.

Gordon Edes:

Matsuzaka took batting practice Friday, Japanese reporters recording his every swing, and drove a ball that hit the 413-foot sign in left-center, about the same spot that J.D. Drew hit one a little farther for a home run that night.

Ian Browne:

According to one member of the Japanese media, Matsuzaka had 11 hits -- including two homers -- in 22 swings.

Japan uses the DH, but in two years of batting in interleague games, Matsuzaka went 4-for-19 (.211) with one homer and three RBIs.