Adrian Beltre hit a tiebreaking home run and Daisuke Matsuzaka allowed just two hits in 6 2/3 innings as the visiting Boston Red Sox defeated the Oakland Athletics 2-1 on Monday night.
Beltre’s fourth-inning homer broke a 1-1 tie and capped a two-run inning as the Red Sox snapped Oakland’s five-game winning streak.
Eric Patterson tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by David Ortiz. One out later, Beltre homered to center field as part of his 3-for-4 night.
Matsuzaka (7-3) struck out six and walked two while winning for the fourth time in his last five decisions.
Rajai Davis homered in the third for Oakland’s lone run. The only other hit off Matsuzaka was Mark Ellis’ seventh-inning double that put runners on second and third with two out.
Daniel Bard entered the game and retired Gabe Gross on a pop-up. Bard worked out of an eighth-inning jam before Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth for his 21st save.
The Athletics finished with just three hits against the three Boston hurlers.
Oakland starter Ben Sheets (4-9) allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Boston | Oakland | |
Daisuke Matsuzaka | Player | Ben Sheets |
Win | W/L | Loss |
6.2 | IP | 6.2 |
6 | Strikeouts | 2 |
2 | Hits | 7 |
1.35 | ERA | 2.70 |
Boston | Oakland | |
Adrian Beltre | Player | Rajai Davis |
3 | Hits | 1 |
1 | RBI | 1 |
1 | HR | 1 |
6 | TB | 4 |
.750 | Avg | .333 |