Relaxed Matsuzaka mows down Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Daisuke Matsuzaka looked about as carefree after his highly anticipated major league debut as he did before taking the mound. In between, he validated the heavy price tag and huge expectations.

Matsuzaka struck out 10 in seven innings, allowed six hits and walked one to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Kansas City Royals 4-1 Thursday before a crowd that appeared to be as interested in the Japanese pitcher as it was in the Royals.

The 26-year-old right-hander spent the hours leading up to the first pitch lounging on a leather sofa in the clubhouse, occasionally laughing and pointing at an ESPN segment that talked about his mystical, perhaps mythical, gyroball. If the $103 million rookie had any indication the entire baseball world was waiting for his performance, he never let on.

“For me it didn’t quite feel like the very first time,” Matsuzaka said through an interpreter.

No fewer than 19 photographers gathered behind home plate for Dice-K’s warmup pitches before the bottom half of the first inning.