Daisuke Matsuzaka, the gyroball-throwing (OK, not really) Japanese right-handed who was sidelined with a torn ulnar collateral ligament last season, made his first rehab start for the Salem Red Sox on Monday. Matsuzaka, pitching for the High-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox in the Carolina League, gave up three earned runs in four innings in a 7-2 loss for Salem to Wilmington.

Dice-K gave up two quick runs in the first inning and another in the second and finished with three strikeouts while giving up six hits, zero walks and two home runs. Matsuzaka will only be able to pitch in the Red Sox' minor league system for the next 30 days, unless he is still not healthy at that point, as WEEI.com's Alex Speier writes.

Matsuzaka has played five seasons with the Red Sox, amassing 49 wins and 30 losses in 106 games while posting a career 4.25 ERA. Last season, Matsuzaka was 3-3 with a 5.30 ERA and 26 strikeouts.

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