Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka throws to a batter during his five-inning start against the Braves Monday at Kissimmee, Fla.

AP / Rob Carr

KISSIMMEE, Fla. –– Perhaps the time away at the World Baseball Classic really has been beneficial for Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Japanese pitcher was the model of efficiency Monday against the Atlanta Braves, throwing five quick innings in his first start since winning MVP honors at the tournament.

“I’m impressed myself that I got through five innings. There were a lot of things I was able to work on out there today, especially using movement on my pitches,” Matsuzaka said.

Matsuzaka said last week that he planned “big changes” in the way he pitches in 2009, after walking the most batters per inning in the American League last year. Monday, Matsuzaka threw 75 pitches in his five innings, and gave up two hits, three walks, and one earned run. He struck out two. He left with the score tied at 2, after Kevin Youkilis booted a grounder at first base, allowing two runs to score.

Manager Terry Francona was particularly pleased at the pace of the game.

“I thought his tempo was real good. He threw the ball, didn’t waste time, got the ball, threw it, which I thought was really good,” Francona said. “I think we were kind of pleased. We haven’t seen him for a while, except on TV.”

Matsuzaka said he was conscious of keeping his tempo up, and of throwing strikes.

“It’s something I work on every start. Once you start losing tempo and rhythm, that’s when things start falling apart. Timing and tempo are things I’m consistently aware of,” he said.

Matsuzaka’s time at the WBC was an unnerving one, by the standards of his American pitching coaches. While the Sox’ other starters were still on 50-pitch, four-inning limits, Matsuzaka was throwing nearly 100 pitches in games that counted for his country. It was, without question, more than the Red Sox wanted to see from him in March.

“The Red Sox kept reminding me that I was a little bit ahead of schedule and pacing myself too quickly. On the other hand, getting prepared for games that early, I think, kept me ahead of schedule and I’d like to take that in a positive way,” Matsuzaka said.

The WBC tired him out somewhat, but his outing Monday buoyed him and made him feel there won’t be any issues going forward.

Matsuzaka will next start in an exhibition game against the New York Mets on Saturday to open the new Citi Field. He is slated to take the third spot in the rotation, behind Josh Beckett and Jon Lester.

Rocco Baldelli hit a two-run home run to tie the game in the fifth inning. The Red Sox pulled ahead on a Dustin Pedroia RBI double, but the Sox blew the lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, and then the Braves won it on a double in the 10th.

dbarbari@projo.com