Hernandez steals show from Matsuzaka

Fans were treated to a great pitching performance in Daisuke Matsuzaka’s Fenway Park debut -- only it was by Felix Hernandez.

Seattle’s pitching phenom didn’t give up a hit until J.D. Drew singled on his first pitch of the eighth inning, and the Mariners beat the Boston Red Sox, 3-0, on Wednesday night in the heralded first major league matchup between Matsuzaka and Ichiro Suzuki.

“That’s fine for me when the guys all talk about him,” Hernandez said of Matsuzaka. “I just go out and do my best.”

Hernandez (2-0), three days past his 21st birthday, pitched a one-hitter for his third complete game in 45 starts. Hernandez struck out six and walked two, retiring his first eight batters until walking Dustin Pedroia. He hasn’t yielded a run in 17 innings this season.

Matsuzaka (1-1), who started his major league career last week with a strong victory at Kansas City, gave up three runs and eight hits in seven innings, striking out four and walking one.

Before the first pitch, Matsuzaka squatted several times behind the mound. Then, with cameras flashing and fans cheering, Suzuki stepped in.

After two initial strikes, the count went to 3-and-2 before Suzuki hit a hard grounder that Matsuzaka easily caught and threw to first baseman Kevin Youkilis. Suzuki went on to finish 0 for 5.

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RESULTS

Detroit 4, at Baltimore 1 (12 innings): Craig Monroe hit a grand slam with two out in the 12th inning, and Detroit limited Baltimore to six hits. Monroe’s first homer of the season was his third hit of the game and third career grand slam. Tigers starter Justin Verlander gave up three hits in seven scoreless innings. He has not given up an earned run in 13 innings but is 0-0 after two starts. Wilfredo Ledezma (1-0) yielded one hit in two innings for the win.

at Minnesota 5, New York 1: Ramon Ortiz (2-0) gave up three hits and one run in eight innings and struck Alex Rodriguez twice in stopping his home-run streak at four games. Rodriguez’s fourth-inning sacrifice fly was the only damage against Ortiz. Yankees starter Mike Mussina strained his left hamstring and left in the third inning.

Chicago 6, at Oakland 3: Darin Erstad hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the ninth after Jermaine Dye connected for a tying two-run homer an inning earlier in the White Sox’s first series victory at the Coliseum since Aug. 28-30, 2000. The White Sox had nine hits after getting 12 total in the first two games between the teams.

at Toronto 7, Kansas City 4: Troy Glaus homered and reached base four times, and Aaron Hill had three hits and three runs batted in for the Blue Jays. Gustavo Chacin (1-0) gave up three runs and five hits in five-plus innings as the Blue Jays won for the fourth time in five games. Glaus was two for two with two walks and three runs.

Tampa Bay 6, at Texas 5: Carlos Pena homered during a four-run third inning for the Devil Rays, who moved to 5-36 on the road since June 30. Michael Young homered twice for the Rangers, who had won four of their previous five.

Seattle 3, at Boston 0: Adrian Beltre had a run-scoring double in a two-run fifth inning.

Angels 4, vs. Cleveland 1: The Angels took full advantage of Jake Westbrook’s four walks.