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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Daisuke Matsuzaka's spring training debut with the Boston Red Sox began when he gave up a leadoff double to a college junior. Then the Japanese star retired his other six batters Friday night.

Eliot J. Schechter/Getty ImagesHow popular was Daisuke Matsuzaka on Friday night? More than 100 media members attended the much anticipated debut against Boston College.

Matsuzaka threw 25 pitches, 19 for strikes in the first two innings of a 9-1 win over Boston College.

"I wasn't particularly nervous before the game," he said through an interpreter. "So since there was no nervousness, [there was] no relief" that he had gotten past his first game.

Fifteen photographers stood behind home plate to capture his warmup pitches and more than 100 media members attended the much anticipated debut, even though it was just an exhibition game against a college team.

Johnny Ayers, a junior right fielder, lined Matsuzaka's first pitch, a fastball, to left field for an opposite-field double. Some of his teammates in the dugout focused cameras on him as he took his swing.

But no other Eagles batters hit the ball hard before Matsuzaka was replaced after the second inning by Kyle Jackson.

"It's not a realistic goal to go out there and think I might hit a home run or a double. No one expects it," Ayers said before the game. "I'm hoping just to have a quality at bat, make solid contact. I think that's the best case scenario. I'm hoping to see a fastball."

Ayers, a punter on the BC football team, took third when Ryan Hutchinson was out at first on a ball tapped in front of the plate that was fielded by catcher Jason Varitek as Matsuzaka charged in from the mound. Then Matsuzaka struck out the next two batters, Jared McGuire and Peter Frates, on four pitches.

"He seems as poised as anybody," catcher Jason Varitek said. "There's no sense of butterflies at all."

Joe Ayers, no relation to Johnny Ayers, led off the second inning by grounding out to second. Matsuzaka then set down Jeff Schomaker on a called third strike and Jett Ruiz on a popup to second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

"I am not 100 percent satisfied with how I pitched," Matsuzaka said, "but, considering the time of the season, it is OK."

Matsuzaka pitched with a deliberate motion, pausing momentarily at the top of his stretch before throwing. His fastest pitch was a 94 mph fastball for a ball to Joe Ayers. On his last pitch, he retired Ruiz on an 82 mph breaking pitch.

"There was interest. You look in the Boston College dugout, they're all on the top step. You look in our dugout, they're on the top step," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "So it was fun to be a part of it, but I think more encouraging was watching him throw the ball."

Matsuzaka is scheduled to make his first appearance against a major league team Tuesday against the Florida Marlins in Jupiter. Matsuzaka signed a $52 million contract with Boston after the team bid $51.11 million for his rights.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press