Game 3: Dice-K struggles, Rays squeak Sox

Maybe Daisuke Matsuzaka needs to be wearing the Japan colors when he pitches, because it seems like -- at least early in the season -- he struggles with the Sox, rocks in the WBC.

Dice-K got touched up for nine hits, four runs (including three home runs), three walks and struck out five in 5.1 innings of work against the Rays. The Sox made the game interesting late, but lost 4-3.

Here's a shocker: Jason Varitek leads the Red Sox in home runs. Did I just say that? I did. He hit a bomb in the 9th off Troy Percival to bring the score within one. Jason Bay and Mike Lowell also had RBIs.

The bullpen was solid. Manny Delcarmen, Ramon Ramirez, Hideki Okajima and Justin Masterson did not allow a run. Delcarmen and Okajima walked two apiece in their work, but Okajima allowed the only hit of the four.

Kevin Youkilis -- for all three games this year -- was the only Sox with multiple hits. He had three on the day, raising his average to .667 in three games.

The Sox are on the West Coast tonight as they face the Angels at 10:05 p.m. EST. Tim Wakefield versus Jered Weaver.

Editor's Note: Make sure to put your mouse over the image and click "more photos" so you can see a gallery of the game's images.