The $103 million pitcher takes the mound for Boston on tomorrow night in Game 7 against Cleveland and Jake Westbrook when the Boston Red Sox try to cap their comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the AL championship series.

Daisuke Matsuzaka starred in big games in Japan, even pitched a no-hitter in his national high school championship game. Now he can pitch the Red Sox back into the World Series.

"I think Dice is very capable of coming out and pitching a gem," J.D. Drew said after leading Boston to a 12-2 victory in Game 6 Saturday night.

Matsuzaka was a sensation at the start of the season after the Red Sox spent $51,111,111 to acquire his rights from the Seibu Lions, then signed him to a $52 million six-year contract. But he faded late in the season and lasted just 4 2-3 innings in each of his two postseason starts: a 6-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels in Game 2 of the AL division series and a 4-2 loss in Game 3 against Cleveland and Westbrook.

Matsuzaka was still staring into his locker more than an hour after his latest loss, barely moving except to clasp his fingers behind his neck and cup his chin in his left hand. But he was smiling and playing long toss in the outfield during Friday's workout day. And he has his success on the big stage to fall back on.

He threw 250 pitches to win a 17-inning game in Japan's Koshien high school tournament. He played on his country's Olympic teams in 2000 and 2004. Then in March 2006, he was the MVP of the first World Baseball Classic, a tournament with star pitchers such as Jake Peavy, Carlos Zambrano and Johan Santana.

But his late-season struggles have him on a short leash should he falter in Game 7. Josh Beckett would likely relieve on short rest — he threw four innings of relief for Florida against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh game of the 2003 NLCS. Beckett had won Game 5 — just as he would do for the Red Sox this year — and came back on two days' rest to throw 45 pitches against the Cubs.