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NEW YORK -- Daisuke Matsuzaka pinched his eyelids, clenched his teeth and thought back. He couldnt remember all the details of the first save of his professional career. After 123 starts during seven seasons in Major League Baseball, the 33-year-old right-hander was turned into a reliever by the New York Mets when they brought him up from the minor leagues on April 16. Eight days later, manager Terry Collins took a chance -- a roll of the Dice-K? -- and Matsuzaka responded with a perfect ninth inning Thursday to cap a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. He hadnt saved a game since May 2000, his second season with the Seibu Lions of Japans Pacific League, when he struck out four during the final three innings of a 9-0 win at the Chiba Lotte Marines. "Its definitely different," he said through a translator, "but I think Im starting to get used to going from the bullpen." Chris Young homered to start New Yorks comeback from a 1-0, fifth-inning deficit, slumping Curtis Granderson singled in a run as a pinch hitter and Daniel Murphy drove in two runs. Bartolo Colon (2-3) allowed four hits in seven innings, struck out eight and walked none, sending Lance Lynn to his first career loss in April. Matsuzaka, who completed a four-pitcher, four-hitter, was a rookie of the year in Japan in 1999, MVP as his national team won the first World Baseball Classic in 2006 and was given a $52 million, six-year contract by the Boston Red Sox after they paid Seibu $51,111,111.11 for his rights. Matsuzaka went 15-12 in his first season with the Red Sox and 18-3 in his second, but he injured a hip during the 2009 WBC and was never the same, hurting his arm and eventually needing elbow ligament-replacement surgery. He was just 50-37 for the Red Sox and signed a minor league contract in February 2013 with Cleveland, which released him in August. Then he joined the Mets, started seven games and signed a minor league deal with New York, which initially sent him to Triple-A Las Vegas this spring. But when Bobby Parnells season ended with a torn elbow ligament on opening day, the Mets had to scramble to restock their bullpen. Jose Valverde struggled as the closer and Kyle Farnsworth took over the role. Manager Terry Collins wanted to give the 38-year-old Farnsworth a rest after three appearances in four days. "I just said this is a good opportunity to see how Dice handles it," Collins explained, "and he did well." In a 15-pitch outing, Matsuzaka retired Allen Craig on a lineout to right after falling behind 3-1, struck out Daniel Descalso in an eight-pitch at-bat and got Peter Bourjos on a game-ending foulout to the catcher. "Before, I never really thought I would be able to pitch out of the bullpen because I just take so long to prepare," Matsuzaka said. "I think I just have to keep pitching well to gain full confidence from the team, but I think having had a few opportunities in tight situations definitely is encouraging." Collins said Farnsworth, who has two saves, remains his first-choice closer but Matsuzuka may receive more ninth-inning opportunities. His preparation, which includes lengthy stretching, will have to change. "If hes going to pitch the back end of the game, be it the eighth, the ninth, somewhere in there," the manager said, "I dont want him to wear himself out in the fifth inning, at 8:15. I want him to kind of save something." Dice-K said its as much mental as physical. "Just to comfort myself, I think I throw more than I probably have to," he said. New York also gave 40-year-old right fielder Bobby Abreu hit first big league start since July 25, 2012. Abreu went 1 for 3 with an opposite-field double to left in the fifth -- his first hit with the Mets. "Its been a long time," he said. "It was kind of exciting. At first I had to calm down my emotions and just go out there and play the game." New York took three of four from the defending NL champions and has won four of five overall. St. Louis lost for the sixth time in nine games and has gone 291 at-bats without a home run since Allen Craig connected at Milwaukee off Wily Peralta on April 16. Lynn (4-1) had been 12-0 through April in his big league career, including one March victory. But given a fifth-inning lead, he allowed the Mets to tie the score in the bottom half and go ahead 2-1 on Murphys RBI double in the sixth, a ball that dropped just in front of diving centerfielder Jon Jay. Lynn was chased in a two-run seventh after Eric Young Jr. bunted and reached on a two-base error when the pitcher threw off first baseman Matt Adams glove and into right field. Granderson had been 2 for 20 against left-handers this year before he greeted Kevin Siegrist with an RBI single, and Murphy singled in the final run. "Weve been home six days in the past 2 1/2 months," Lynn said. "I think a lot of people are looking forward to getting home and sleeping in their own beds." NOTES: With hitters on both teams complaining about plate umpire Alan Porters wide strike zone on a blustery afternoon, New York batters struck out 10 times, raising their total to 213 and passing Miami (203) for the major league lead. ... Zack Wheeler (1-2) starts Fridays series opener at home against Miamis Henderson Alvarez (1-2). Penny Hardaway Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Charles Barkley Jersey . The two teams will play through the completion of the game starting at 5pm ct on Wednesday. The regularly scheduled Wednesday night matchup will follow that and will now be seven innings. http://www.officialsunsfanstore.com/deandre-ayton-suns-jersey/ . You can watch the game live on TSN2 and TSN Mobile TV at 9pm et/6pm pt. Jonathan Huberdeau and Quinton Howden are expected to make their debuts for Team Canada. Kevin Johnson Jersey . The Blue Jackets announced the injury through their official Twitter account Friday afternoon. Gaborik, 31, has scored five goals and six assists in 17 games with the Blue Jackets in 2013-14. Dan Majerle Jersey .C., has been named Canadas top female official, winning the 2014 SOC Award of Excellence. Cranes career as a figure skating judge has spanned over 40 years.SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. -- The Kelowna Rockets scored three unanswered goals in the third period to beat the Swift Current Broncos 4-2 in Western Hockey League action Tuesday. Zach Franko, Tyrell Goulbourne, Colton Heffley and Ryan Olsen each scored for Kelowna (23-3-2), which won its seventh straight and moved into a tie for the leagues best record with idle Portland. Zac Mackay and Tanner LaSann replied for the Broncos (19-12-3), who missed out on a chance to move ahead of Edmonton atop the Eastern Conference. Rockets goaltender Jordon Cooke finished with 24 saves, while Eetu Laurikainen did what he could with 40 saves for Swift Current. --- WHEAT KINGS 5 BLAZERS 2 BRANDON, Man. -- Rihards Bukarts had a pair of goals for the Wheat Kings, who scored three in the second period to beat Kamloops. Jesse Gabrielle, Peter Quenneville and Jayce Hawryluk had a goal each for Brandon (17-14-2). Jesse Shynkaruk and Eric Krienke each scored in the second for the struggling Blazers (6-21-4). Jordan Papirny made 31 saves in net for the Wheat Kings. At the other end of the ice, Cole Kehler stopped 26 shots. --- OIL KINGS 3 BLADES 1 SASKATOON -- Cole Bensons short-handed goal lifted Edmonton past the Blades. Henrik Samuelsson and Curtis Lazar also scored for the Eastern Conference-leading Oil Kings (20-9-1), who won their sixth straight. Nikita Scherbak had the lone goal for Saskatoon (10-21-3). Edmontons Tristan Jarry stopped just 19 shots, while Troy Trombley was far busier in Saskatoons net with 46 saves. --- HURRICANES 6 REBELS 0 LETHBRIDGE, Alta. -- Tyler Wong scored twice as the league-worst Hurricanes embarrassed Red Deer. Reid Duke, Riley Sheen, Reid Nemeth and Josh Derko each scored for Lethbridge (5-24-4), which scored twice in the first period despite being outshot 11-4. Taz Burman started for the Rebels (144-16-2) but was pulled after allowing all six goals on 27 shots.dddddddddddd He was replaced by Grant Naherniak, who finished with six saves. Teagan Sacher, meanwhile, earned the shutout with 35 saves for Lethbridge. --- TIGERS 1 HITMEN 0 (OT) MEDICINE HAT, Alta. -- Logan McVeigh scored in overtime as the Tigers outlasted an intense game against Calgary. McVeigh scored just 27 seconds into OT for Medicine Hat (19-9-3), which went the entire game without a penalty. Tigers goaltender Daniel Wapple made 39 saves for the shutout. Chris Driedger meanwhile stopped 33 shots in net for the Hitmen (18-7-5). --- ICE 3 COUGARS 1 PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. -- Mackenzie Skapski was spectacular with 51 saves as Kootenay survived against the Cougars. Jagger Dirk, Jaedon Descheneau and Tim Bozon each scored for the Ice (17-15-2), who were outshot in every period. Jordan Tkatch broke Skapskis shutout bid at 13:22 in the second for Prince George (12-17-5) before the Ice scored three unanswered goals. Cougars goalie Ty Edmonds finished with 29 saves. --- GIANTS 3 ROYALS 2 VANCOUVER -- Travis McEvoy scored the winning goal in the second period to lift the Giants past Victoria. Trent Lofthouse and Tyler Morrison also scored for Vancouver (15-12-7), which led 2-0 after the first period. Ben Walker scored twice for the Royals (20-13-1), including once shorthanded. Giants goalie Payton Lee made just 14 saves, while at the other end of the ice Coleman Vollrath stopped 30 shots. --- THUNDERBIRDS 3 AMERICANS 1 KENNEWICK, Wash. -- Roberts Lipsbergs scored twice as Seattle beat Tri-City. Mathew Barzal had the other goal for the Thunderbirds (19-9-4). Lucas Nickles scored the only goal for the Americans (17-14-3). Danny Mumaugh turned back 22 shots for Seattle. Eric Comrie meanwhile had 29 saves in net for Tri-City. 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