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Igawa makes debut as Yankees host Orioles

Apr 7, 2007 - 1:42 PM Baltimore (1-3) at NY Yankees (1-2), 1:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka made headlines with a stellar major league debut Thursday. Two days later, the New York Yankees unveil their own Japanese import.

Lefthander Kei Igawa makes his major league debut Saturday when the Yankees host the Baltimore Orioles.

Igawa became the fifth Japanese player to come to the majors this offseason, joining Matsuzaka, Red Sox lefthander Hideki Okajima, Tampa Bay Devil Rays infielder Akinori Iwamura and Pittsburgh Pirates righthander Masumi Kuwata.

The Yankees earned exclusive negotiation rights with Igawa after a winning bid of $26 million on November 28. They reached a contract agreement with Igawa on January 8.

Igawa went 14-9 with a 2.97 ERA for the Hanshin Tigers last season. He recorded 197 strikeouts to lead the Central League in strikeouts for the third time in eight seasons.

The lefthander makes his debut with much less fanfare than Matsuzaka, who struck out 10 over seven strong innings to win his highly anticipated debut against Kansas City.

The Orioles counter with veteran Steve Trachsel, who also will debut for his new team. The righthander signed with Baltimore on February 14, just hours after the team learned that starter Kris Benson would miss the season because of a torn rotator cuff.

Trachsel, 36, was 15-8 with a 4.97 ERA for the Mets last season. But two poor outings in the playoffs diminished his value on the open market.

Baltimore won the opener of this three-game series, 6-4, on Friday. Nick Markakis and Jay Gibbons each had a pair of RBI for the Orioles.

Yankees All-Star shortstop Derek Jeter left the game after fouling a pitch off his foot. X-rays were negative, and his status is day-to-day.