Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester to Start for Boston Red Sox in Japan

Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jon Lester to start for the Boston Red Sox versus Oakland A's in Ricoh Opening Series 2008 in Japan

03/17/2008, FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka will start for the Boston Red Sox in the 2008 regular season opener against the Oakland A's on Tuesday, March 25 in Tokyo, Japan.

Lefthander Jon Lester will be Boston's starting pitcher in the second game of the Ricoh Opening Series 2008 on Wednesday, March 26. Manager Terry Francona made the announcement on Monday.

Francona also indicated that righthander Clay Buchholz will start the Red Sox' exhibition game against the Hanshin Tigers on Saturday, March 22 and righthander Tim Wakefield will be on the mound for the exhibition versus the Yomiuri Giants on Sunday, March 23. Al four games in Japan will be played at the Tokyo Dome.

Righthanders Joe Blanton (March 25) and Rich Harden (March 26) will start for Oakland in the two games against the Red Sox in Japan.

The Red Sox will depart for Tokyo following Wednesday's exhibition game with Toronto in Fort Myers. The team will arrive in Japan on Thursday night and work out at the Tokyo Dome on Friday afternoon.

RED SOX REDUCE SPRING TRAINING ROSTER TO 35 WITH FOUR MOVES

The Red Sox today optioned righthanded pitchers Craig Hansen and Lincoln Holdzkom, catcher George Kottaras, and first baseman-outfielder Chris Carter to Triple-A Pawtucket of the International League.

With the moves, Boston has 35 players remaining in major league camp. That number does not include RHP Curt Schilling, who is on the 60-day disabled list.

Source: MLB

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