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Matsuzaka returns when Red Sox face Cardinals

Jun 21, 2008 - 1:09 PM St. Louis (43-32) at Boston (46-30) 3:55 p.m. EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka will make his return from the disabled list when the Boston Red Sox host the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday in the second game of a three-game interleague series.

The Red Sox have made dominating National League opponents a yearly ritual of late, posting a 47-17 record in interleague play since 2005.

But the Cardinals got the better of Boston in Friday's series opener, scraping out a 5-4 victory. Skip Schumaker hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to snap a tie and Kyle Lohse pitched six strong innings to lead St. Louis.

Matsuzaka (8-0, 2.53 ERA) will try to improve on Boston's 7-3 interleague record this season when he returns on Saturday. The Japanese righthander has been out since May 28 with a mild right rotator cuff sprain but will be activated before the game.

Matsuzaka was one of the best pitchers in the American League prior to the injury, ranking in the top five in both strikeouts, with 55 in 64 innings, and ERA. The 27-year-old had problems with his command, however, issuing 38 walks and failing to record an out in the eighth inning in any of his 11 starts this season.

He pitched five innings in a rehab start for Class AAA Pawtucket on Monday, allowing two runs and four hits while striking out five and issuing one walk.

St. Louis will counter with rookie Mitchell Boggs (1-0, 5.56). The 24-year-old righthander allow three runs through his first seven major league innings - including one start and one relief appearance - but was knocked around in his last outing, allowing four runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings in a no decision last Sunday.