Cameras flashed, fans cheered and the pitching sensation retired Suzuki on Boston's most exciting comebacker since Keith Foulke gloved Edgar Renteria's grounder for the final out of the World Series victory by the Red Sox in 2004.

In Japan, Suzuki was 8-for-34 against Matsuzaka, including strikeouts in his first three at-bats. That was in 1999 and 2000, Suzuki's last two years in Japan and Matsuzaka's first two as a pro in that country.

"I just thought about it when I walked into the clubhouse," Suzuki said before Wednesday night's game of his first at-bat. "We face so many different pitchers. I take it one day at a time. It's finally here. I did feel excited."

The next season with the Mariners, Suzuki led the majors in batting average and stolen bases and won the AL Rookie of the Year and MVP awards.

Matsuzaka's path to the majors covered eight seasons with the Seibu Lions before he agreed to a six-year, $52 million contract with the Red Sox last December. The team had to pay Seibu $51.11 million for his rights.

On the first pitch of the game, Suzuki looked at a strike. Then he fouled the ball behind home plate. But Matsuzaka threw balls on the next three pitches, drawing boos from the fans. On the next pitch, Suzuki hit a hard grounder that Matsuzaka gloved easily and threw to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.