Tito: "We're Not Exactly Sure What's Going On"

Terry Francona:

This was all happening as [Matsuzaka] was warming up. Johnny [Farrell] had called me and said, "Hey, he's not warming up very well." I called him back and said, "Is this something to worry about?" I said, "Let [Get?] Atchison." We don't want to surprise somebody, don't want to put him behind the eight-ball more than he already is. It became apparent, Johnny called back and said, "I'm not comfortable with this." And I don't think Dice-K fought him.

Scott Atchison:

I was in here dressed, 20 or 25 minutes before the game, I guess, just kind of waiting. DeMarlo [Hale] came in and said, "Atch, get your glove. Let's go." I said, "Where we going?" He said, "We need you out in the bullpen, something might be up." I was already dressed, so it wasn't that big a deal from that point.

I got out in the dugout and Tito said, "Head out to the bullpen. We're not exactly sure what's going on." So I went out there and Dice was still throwing. I guess they called in and they were like, "Get going, you're going to start this thing." It was kind of exciting because I've never started a game in the big leagues.

Atchison started warming up shortly before the national anthem was played.

Francona:

When [Matsuzaka] was warming he said his forearm was sore. He said he could pitch, but would have to change his delivery. We weren't comfortable with that.

Matsuzaka:

Until I went to the bullpen, I went through my regular routine, but once I got in and started throwing, I felt some sudden tightness in my forearm. I think I could have pitched through it, but we talked about it and decided there's no sense in trying to compenstate and making a mechanical adjustment just to get through it, so that was the decision.

Nothing out of the ordinary. I went through my normal routine, got some massage work done. And went into my start today feeling pretty much the same as usual, so yes it was sudden. ... [T]he trainers took a look at me and things didn't seem that bad. It's not a joint issue. It's muscle soreness, so I don't think it's going to take that long. We'll take some time, see how I feel tomorrow, and take it from there. ...

I can't even remember when the last time [I was scratched from a start] so ... I don't think this is a really big problem at all.