Blue Jays defeat Red Sox, Matsuzaka

TORONTO — Daisuke Matsuzaka’s lack of control in a key situation cost him against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Matsuzaka struck out 10 over six innings but forced in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk to Gregg Zaun in the fourth, and Toronto defeated the Boston Red Sox, 2-1, on Tuesday night despite getting only three hits.

“He didn’t command like he can,” Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said.

Matsuzaka (1-2) retired his first eight batters and Wily Mo Pena’s third-inning homer gave him a lead, but Lyle Overbay’s single tied the score in Toronto’s two-run fourth.

“When you have a chance to get him, you have to get him,” Overbay said.

Jason Frasor, taking over as closer while B.J. Ryan is out because of a sprained elbow, got four outs for his first save since Sept. 20, 2005, against Seattle.

He retired David Ortiz on a groundout to end the eighth with a runner on, then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth. Manny Ramirez lined out, and Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell grounded out.

“As the game progressed, we lost our patience a little bit,” Francona said.

Matsuzaka gave up three hits and three walks in six innings as his earned-run average rose from 2.57 to 2.70. He struck out 10 for the second time in three starts -- the previous pitcher to reach double-digit strikeouts twice in his first three major league starts was the Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.

“Even if I pitch well and the team does not win, I’m definitely not happy with that result,” Matsuzaka said through a interpreter.

“We had come in here having won a few games in a row, and I’m very disappointed we couldn’t keep that streak going. The weight of that loss as a team weighs upon me more heavily than my loss as a pitcher.”

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RESULTS

* Minnesota 11, at Seattle 2: Torii Hunter broke open the game with a fifth-inning grand slam, then left after bruising a shoulder while trying to catch a line drive in Minnesota’s rout. Hunter is day to day.

* at New York 10, Cleveland 3: Alex Rodriguez hit his major league-leading eighth home run. Rodriguez’s two-run drive gave him 21 runs batted in, most in the majors. He has a 17-game hitting streak dating to last season.

* Texas 8, at Chicago 1: Sammy Sosa sparked the Rangers’ rout with a three-run homer, the 591st of his career.

* at Tampa Bay 6, Baltimore 4: Rocco Baldelli had a two-run single during a six-run fourth inning and the Devil Rays stopped the Orioles’ four-game winning streak.

* at Detroit 7, Kansas City 6: Placido Polanco hit the tiebreaking single with two out in the eighth inning and the Tigers extended the Royals’ losing streak to six.

* at Toronto 2, Boston 1: Daisuke Matsuzaka struck out 10 over six innings but forced in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk to Gregg Zaun in the fourth.

* at Oakland 4, Angels 1: The Athletics spoiled the season debut of Jered Weaver.

From the Associated Press