Matsuzaka shines on debut

The Japanese mixed his dazzling fastball with his crafty off-speed deliveries to strike out 10 Royals and walk one while scattering six hits.

"It's a day I've been waiting for for a very long time," a smiling Matsuzaka said after the game

Kansas City scored its lone run on a solo homer in the sixth inning by David DeJesus.

"He's pretty much as advertised," Royals manager Buddy Bell said of Matsuzaka. "He was really good. He just really had a feel for what he was doing."

"For his first outing in this league to throw like that was pretty impressive."

A crowd of 23,170 and over 300 journalists, including 135 from Japan, were at chilly Kauffman Stadium to watch Matsuzaka handcuff the Royals (1-2). Fans held signs in Japanese in support of major league baseball's newest big name.

Matsuzaka, 26, signed a $52 million, six-year contract with the Red Sox, who paid $51 million for the rights to land the right-hander from the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.

He called his lofty expectations "extreme" but said he was relaxed out on the mound.

"For me it didn't quite feel like the very first time," Matsuzaka said after his 108-pitch, 74-strike performance. "I was able to approach the game as usual.

"It's great I was able to come out here and record a victory."

J.C. Romero and Jonathan Papelbon each pitched one scoreless inning in relief of Matsuzaka (1-0). Boston racked up 11 hits against three Kansas City pitchers but needed a two-run eighth to put the game out of reach.

Matsuzaka's next start will be next Wednesday at Fenway Park against the Seattle Mariners, where he will face another veteran

of Japan's Pacific League, Ichiro Suzuki, a six-times major league All-Star.

"I'm very excited about my next start," he said.