NEW YORK -- Daisuke Matsuzaka pinched his eyelids, clenched his teeth and thought back. He couldnt remember all the details of the first save of his professional career. After 123 starts during seven seasons in Major League Baseball, the 33-year-old right-hander was turned into a reliever by the New York Mets when they brought him up from the minor leagues on April 16. Eight days later, manager Terry Collins took a chance -- a roll of the Dice-K? -- and Matsuzaka responded with a perfect ninth inning Thursday to cap a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. He hadnt saved a game since May 2000, his second season with the Seibu Lions of Japans Pacific League, when he struck out four during the final three innings of a 9-0 win at the Chiba Lotte Marines. "Its definitely different," he said through a translator, "but I think Im starting to get used to going from the bullpen." Chris Young homered to start New Yorks comeback from a 1-0, fifth-inning deficit, slumping Curtis Granderson singled in a run as a pinch hitter and Daniel Murphy drove in two runs. Bartolo Colon (2-3) allowed four hits in seven innings, struck out eight and walked none, sending Lance Lynn to his first career loss in April. Matsuzaka, who completed a four-pitcher, four-hitter, was a rookie of the year in Japan in 1999, MVP as his national team won the first World Baseball Classic in 2006 and was given a $52 million, six-year contract by the Boston Red Sox after they paid Seibu $51,111,111.11 for his rights. Matsuzaka went 15-12 in his first season with the Red Sox and 18-3 in his second, but he injured a hip during the 2009 WBC and was never the same, hurting his arm and eventually needing elbow ligament-replacement surgery. He was just 50-37 for the Red Sox and signed a minor league contract in February 2013 with Cleveland, which released him in August. Then he joined the Mets, started seven games and signed a minor league deal with New York, which initially sent him to Triple-A Las Vegas this spring. But when Bobby Parnells season ended with a torn elbow ligament on opening day, the Mets had to scramble to restock their bullpen. Jose Valverde struggled as the closer and Kyle Farnsworth took over the role. Manager Terry Collins wanted to give the 38-year-old Farnsworth a rest after three appearances in four days. "I just said this is a good opportunity to see how Dice handles it," Collins explained, "and he did well." In a 15-pitch outing, Matsuzaka retired Allen Craig on a lineout to right after falling behind 3-1, struck out Daniel Descalso in an eight-pitch at-bat and got Peter Bourjos on a game-ending foulout to the catcher. "Before, I never really thought I would be able to pitch out of the bullpen because I just take so long to prepare," Matsuzaka said. "I think I just have to keep pitching well to gain full confidence from the team, but I think having had a few opportunities in tight situations definitely is encouraging." Collins said Farnsworth, who has two saves, remains his first-choice closer but Matsuzuka may receive more ninth-inning opportunities. His preparation, which includes lengthy stretching, will have to change. "If hes going to pitch the back end of the game, be it the eighth, the ninth, somewhere in there," the manager said, "I dont want him to wear himself out in the fifth inning, at 8:15. I want him to kind of save something." Dice-K said its as much mental as physical. "Just to comfort myself, I think I throw more than I probably have to," he said. New York also gave 40-year-old right fielder Bobby Abreu hit first big league start since July 25, 2012. Abreu went 1 for 3 with an opposite-field double to left in the fifth -- his first hit with the Mets. "Its been a long time," he said. "It was kind of exciting. At first I had to calm down my emotions and just go out there and play the game." New York took three of four from the defending NL champions and has won four of five overall. St. Louis lost for the sixth time in nine games and has gone 291 at-bats without a home run since Allen Craig connected at Milwaukee off Wily Peralta on April 16. Lynn (4-1) had been 12-0 through April in his big league career, including one March victory. But given a fifth-inning lead, he allowed the Mets to tie the score in the bottom half and go ahead 2-1 on Murphys RBI double in the sixth, a ball that dropped just in front of diving centerfielder Jon Jay. Lynn was chased in a two-run seventh after Eric Young Jr. bunted and reached on a two-base error when the pitcher threw off first baseman Matt Adams glove and into right field. Granderson had been 2 for 20 against left-handers this year before he greeted Kevin Siegrist with an RBI single, and Murphy singled in the final run. "Weve been home six days in the past 2 1/2 months," Lynn said. "I think a lot of people are looking forward to getting home and sleeping in their own beds." NOTES: With hitters on both teams complaining about plate umpire Alan Porters wide strike zone on a blustery afternoon, New York batters struck out 10 times, raising their total to 213 and passing Miami (203) for the major league lead. ... Zack Wheeler (1-2) starts Fridays series opener at home against Miamis Henderson Alvarez (1-2). Brand Shoes Cheap Online . They actually finished with a better record in ‘07 than they did in ‘06 but only marginally, going from 61 victories to 66. Yeezy Boost 350 V3 For Sale . - The Denver Broncos kept rookie wide receiver Tavarres King from joining the Green Bay Packers by promoting him to their active roster Tuesday. http://www.brandshoescheaponline.com/who...hoes-china.html. In the last race before the Sochi Olympics, Bjoergen followed up her win in the 10-kilometre classical race on Saturday by beating World Cup sprint leader Denise Herrmann of Germany by 0.43 seconds for her fifth victory of the season. Fake Air Force 1 For Sale . The Mavericks were not going to let San Antonio beat them with 3-pointers, and they did not want Tony Parker using the lane as his personal playground. Nike Air Max China Paypal . PETERSBURG, Fla.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - While the rest of the Denver Broncos are unwinding, offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase will be participating in the NFLs version of speed dating.Gase will meet in Denver for the head coaching vacancies of the San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons on Friday and the Chicago Bears on Saturday. Also, the Buffalo Bills requested permission Thursday to squeeze in an interview with the 36-year-old Gase. That would also happen Saturday.The Broncos (12-4) are on a three-day break and reconvene Sunday to begin preparations for their divisional round opponent. The AFCs No. 2 seed will host a second-round game Jan. 11.While hes the hot young offensive mind in this years pool of head coaching candidates, Gase said hes focused on helping the Broncos get back to the Super Bowl.Its a great opportunity to be able to do this, Gase said. For these guys to reach out and want to talk to me, Im excited about it. But Im also excited that we have another chance to make a run.Gase was Tim Tebows position coach in 2011 when the Broncos reached the playoffs and beat Pittsburgh and then helped Peyton Manning transition to his new team in 2012. Hes served as DDenvers offensive co-ordinator the last two seasons.ddddddddddddIn 2013, the Broncos became the first NFL team to top 600 points and this season, they integrated a ground game to go with Mannings passing prowess and a retooled defence to lighten the load on the five-time MVP.These last three years have been special, Gase said. Just winning this many games and having an opportunity to actually make a run at a Super Bowl — getting there last year, falling short, and having another shot — its just something you cant take for granted.Manning is a big fan of Gases and has been more than willing to serve as a reference for possible employers.Last year I talked to a couple of teams on behalf of him that reached out to me and that may happen again, so Im certainly glad to share my thoughts, Manning said. I think its pretty well-documented my thoughts on him, so I dont think he needs me to stand up here and campaign for him. But Im excited hes going to have the opportunity that hes going to have this weekend. He deserves it and I think the teams that he talks to will be impressed.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '