Right-hander Naoyuki Uwasawa got the job done despite feeling "really nervous" in his Major League Baseball debut for the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.
The Japanese reliever struck out one and retired all six batters in the eighth and ninth innings of Boston's 3-1 loss to the visiting San Francisco Giants at Fenway Park.
"I thought I wouldn't be nervous, but when I stepped on the mound it was an incredible feeling," said Uwasawa, who was recalled Thursday from Triple-A Worcester to bolster the Red Sox bullpen.
The 30-year-old was posted to the majors in the offseason after nine years as a starter for the Nippon Ham Fighters in the Pacific League. He was initially signed by the Tampa Bay Rays but could not secure one of their MLB roster spots and was traded to Boston on March 27.
Uwasawa entered Thursday's game with the Red Sox trailing 3-1 after the Giants plated two runs in the seventh. He registered his first MLB strikeout to end the eighth inning by getting Michael Conforto to swing at a 2-2 splitter.
"I was able to put into practice the things the team has been asking me to work on since Triple-A," Uwasawa said. "I want to prepare so that I can properly carry out the role I've been given."
