Matsuzaka Goes 6-0 with Homer-Powered Win Over Twins
he Boston Red Sox got an unexpected power surge from the bottom of their lineup to help Daisuke Matsuzaka remain undefeated with a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.
Coco Crisp and Jed Lowrie hit back-to-back homers to lead off the seventh inning _ Crisp's first since Sept. 6 and Lowrie's first of his career _ and Matsuzaka (6-0) gave up two runs and six hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings for the Sox.
Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis also hit solo homers for Boston and Jonathan Papelbon bounced back from two straight blown saves to get his 11th of the season.
In his first big league start, Glen Perkins (0-1) had little trouble with big boppers David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Lowell in the middle of Boston's lineup. They combined to go 1-for-9 with a single and no RBIs against the lefty, but the Red Sox got a big boost from hitters No. 8 and 9 in the order.
Perkins took a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning before the light-hitting duo of Crisp and Lowrie spoiled his evening. He gave up three runs and nine hits with three strikeouts in six-plus innings.
Justin Morneau went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Minnesota and Mike Lamb had three hits, including a popup that hit off a support wire near the Metrodome roof and fell in front of the mound in the ninth.
But the Twins too often were swinging early in the count against Matsuzaka, who has struggled with walks all season long.
The right-hander walked eight in his previous start against Detroit and issued another three free passes in the first two innings against the Twins, including one to Carlos Gomez with the bases loaded.
The ball didn't even make it to the plate on one pitch in the third inning that slipped out of his hand on the follow-through and landed about five feet in front of the mound.
But the Twins managed just that one run after loading the bases with one out in the second inning and Matsuzaka didn't walk a batter over his final five innings to get the Red Sox their first victory indoors in nine games.
Lowrie went 3-for-4 and finished a triple shy of the cycle. Ramirez went 0-for-5 and remains stuck on 497 career home runs.
Notes: Red Sox RHP Curt Schilling threw from 60 feet as he continues his rehabilitation of a shoulder injury. Schilling said he felt good and will throw again on Monday. ... Red Sox RHP Bartolo Colon made a rehab start on Saturday for Triple-A Pawtucket, allowing one run and four hits in three innings with two strikeouts. ... Twins 2B Brendan Harris (hamstring) missed the game, as did Red Sox SS Julio Lugo (concussion).
Sat May 10, 2008 22:11 EDT
JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Sports Writer
MINNEAPOLIS
Boston Red Sox' Daisuke Matsuzaka throws against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning as he went on to pick up his sixth win against no losses as the Red Sox beat the Twins 5-2 in a baseball game Saturday, May 10, 2008 in Minneapolis.
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)
he Boston Red Sox got an unexpected power surge from the bottom of their lineup to help Daisuke Matsuzaka remain undefeated with a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.
