Matsuzaka

BOSTON — When his name was announced during the Opening Day festivities yesterday, Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Red Sox’ prized (and $103-million) pitching import, was given a rousing ovation by Boston’s fans at Fenway Park.

He’ll be hoping for more cheers tonight when he makes his home debut. And while that would be enough to generate a major media blitz, Dice-K’s first game at Fenway will have an even more heightened sense of interest because the first batter he’ll face will be none other than fellow Japanese countryman Ichiro Suzuki.

Matsuzaka, who fanned 10 and gave up only one run in seven innings in Kansas City last week in his first big-league game, is a star in the making in the majors. Ichiro is already a superstar. Sox manager Terry Francona was asked what he expects of their matchup.

“I hope [Dice-K] gets him out,” said Francona. “I’m sure there will be some flashbulbs going off. From our standpoint, it doesn’t go much past that.”

Coco Crisp, for one, said he’ll be interested to see how those one-on-one confrontations go.

“Those are two guys from the other side of the world,” he said. “It’s going to be fun to watch Dice-K pitch to Ichiro. Dice-K is an unbelievable pitcher and Ichiro has such great bat control.”

The Sox, meanwhile, are trying not to over-hype Matsuzaka and what he might mean to the team’s playoff hopes.

“We still have a learning curve to go through and adjust to the hitters when he sees a team for the first time,” said catcher Jason Varitek. “He’s only pitched one game. I don’t think a guy can accomplish too much in one game.”

But he still has been impressive, especially given the attention he has drawn from the Japanese media and the media in this country, said Francona.

“He’s really in command of what he’s doing,” said Francona. “Things on the periphery don’t seem to affect him, so it affects us less.”

Timlin returns to pen

Veteran right-hander Mike Timlin was activated from the disabled list for the home-opener against Seattle after having missed the first week because of a strained oblique muscle, suffered in spring training. And Francona said before the game that he wanted to get Timlin into action as soon as possible to get acclimated to a new season. The blowout against the Mariners provided Francona with the opportunity to give Timlin some work. Timlin, though, was not impressive in his 2007 season debut. He was tagged for two runs on a pair of hits and a walk in the ninth inning, and had to hold his breath on his 24th and final pitch, with right fielder Wily Mo Pena hauling in Ben Broussard’s fly ball at the fence in front of the Seattle bullpen, ending the game.

“It’s a long time being cold sitting in that bullpen to make your first appearance,” said Varitek. “It’s just nice to have him on the mound. We probably just made a selection error on that pitch to [Richie] Sexson, but we got through all his pitches at least once, so that was good.”

Around the bases

In striking out Suzuki for the third time, Josh Beckett joined an exclusive club. Tim Hudson — now with Atlanta, then with Oakland — is the only other pitcher to fan Ichiro three times in the same game. That came on Sept. 19, 2003. The last time Ichiro struck out three times in a game was May 3, 2005 . . . The Sox are now 62-45 all time in home-openers, 53-43 at Fenway Park . . . The Sox have scored in the first inning in six of their seven games this season. The only one in which they didn’t was the 2-0 loss at Texas on Friday.