TORONTO — Daisuke Matsuzaka is used to throwing more pitches in a game than the Red Sox want him to throw, especially at this stage of the season.

So after the sixth inning last night, by which time the right-hander had thrown 105 pitches, Matsuzaka held up one finger to manager Terry Francona, asking to throw one more inning.

Francona appreciated Matsuzaka’s willingness, but said "no."

"He tried politicking to go back out there," said Francona. "I told him late in the season you might be able to talk me into it. But not now. He threw 40 pitches (38, actually) in that (fourth) inning. That’s tough duty."

Matsuzaka, whose record fell to 1-2 despite a solid 2.70 earned-run average, has been a victim of non-support from his offense. The Sox scored four runs for him in winning his debut, but were shut out by Seattle’s Felix Hernandez and managed just the one run last night.

But he did strike out 10 last night, his second double-digit strikeout game in three starts. He also had 10 against Kansas City. Matsuzaka is the first rookie since the Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela to fan at least 10 in two of his first three starts.

Matsuzaka also is the fourth rookie Red Sox pitcher to have at least two 10-strikeout games. Dave Morehead (1963), Roger Clemens (1984) and Aaron Sele (1993) each had three 10-K games.

Tavarez works out

Julian Tavarez, who hasn’t pitched since April 7 in Texas because of postponements caused by rain, threw to hitters early yesterday at the Rogers Centre.

The right-hander, who tossed a side session indoors on Sunday after the Sox’ game against the Angels was postponed, said he threw for about 13-15 minutes yesterday, getting a feel for his start here tomorrow against the Blue Jays.

“It will help a lot,” said Tavarez of the benefit of the session. “Facing hitters, you get to use all your pitches. It helps keep my arm loose and in shape.”

Another start for Pena

Manager Terry Francona wanted Wily Mo Pena to play two days in a row, so the burly outfielder was in the lineup again last night, this time replacing J.D. Drew in right field.

The fact that the three games here are on turf was one reason Francona elected to give Drew the night off from the starting lineup, saving some wear and tear on his legs. So was the fact that the Jays started a left-hander — Gustavo Chacin. Not that Drew can’t hit lefties, said Francona, but Pena, a right-handed slugger, has shown in the past he can tattoo lefties.

Pena went 2-for-3 last night, including a monster homer off the top glass of the restaurant in dead center. The estimated distance was 442 feet.

"He took some swings early today. It’s nice to see them pay off," said Francona. "If he recognizes pitches and swings at strikes he’s going to do some damage."

Francona elevated struggling Coco Crisp (.111) to the second spot and dropped Kevin Youkilis into the fifth hole. Pena batted eighth.

Pena had started in center for Crisp on Monday at home

Francona knows fans and media might be calling for a more prolonged benching of the slumping Crisp, but that he can’t panic as a manager.

“What do they say, ‘If you manage like a fan you’ll end up a fan?’ ” said Francona. “He has scuffled. But if we take him out of the lineup, and he has the ability to get hot, we’re not going to see it and that would be a mistake on my part.”

Crisp had his first multi-hit game of the year, going 2-for- 4. Batting right-handed, he pulled a double to left in the third inning and, batting left-handed in the eighth, he grounded a single up the middle.

The double snapped an 0-for-16 skid. He raised his average from .111 to .150.

Dice-K Mania

Canada doesn’t seem to be caught up in the same Daisuke Matsuzaka Mania that has swept New England.

Dice-K, who started last night’s game, wasn’t even mentioned on the sports pages in some of the Toronto newspapers.

skrasner@projo.com