G24: Angels 7, Red Sox 5

Angels  - 000 010 411 - 7  9  0
Red Sox - 010 200 002 - 5 10  1

Masterson: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 4 K.

Masterson was absolutely fantatsic. He used all four of his pitches from the very start, showed great poise, and despite the four walks, was around the strike zone all afternoon. The bullpen coughed up the lead, and a ninth-inning comeback was a bit short, but this was a good day for our future. We'll be seeing Masterson again very soon!

***

Joe Saunders (2.15, 200 ERA+) / Justin Masterson (MLB Debut)

Justin Daniel Masterson is 23 years old. He's 6-6, 250, and was born in Kingston, Jamaica.

Sox Prospects on RHP Masterson:

Masterson has a three-quarter delivery with a slinging-type motion. His arsenal includes a sinker, a slider, and a change-up. Of those pitches, his best is a phenomenal plus-sinker with an excellent heavy drop -- he can vary its speed from 84-94 mph, catching many hitters off balance. Also mixes in a very good slider that sits in the low 80s, and an improving 77-81 mph four-seam circle change. Uses his sinker predominantly as his out-pitch, but also can make use of his secondary pitches to get out of jams. His mix of pitches results in a high groundball-to-flyball ratio, getting a lot of double plays. Very good command of the zone. ... Converted to a starter in 2007 after coming out of the pen for Lowell in 2006, may still project as a reliever at this point depending on how well his change-up progresses.

With Portland (AA) in 2007, Masterson pitched 58 innings, allowing 49 hits and 18 walks. He struck out 59 and posted a 3.28 ERA.

In four starts for Portland this year, he has an 0.95 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 19 innings. In his last start on April 19, he threw five shutout innings and struck out 10. He has never pitched above AA.