One night after scoring nine straight runs to overcome a 4-0 deficit, the Red Sox spotted the A's three runs in the top of the first and then scored the next six. Kevin Youkilis had a two-run single in the first inning, then Ortiz made it 4-3 in the fifth with a drive down the right-field line.
Matsuzaka (4-2) allowed 10 hits and walked none, striking out seven in all. He gave up back-to-back doubles to Daric Barton and Ryan Sweeney before Kurt Suzuki's two-run homer in the first gave Oakland a 3-0 lead.
After his shaky start, though, Matsuzaka did not allow a runner to reach third base until the seventh, when he hit Barton with two outs and Sweeney singled up the middle on a 3-2 pitch. Daniel Bard came in and struck Suzuki out to protect the 4-3 lead, then retired the side in the eighth.
Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 13th save, giving up a solo homer to pinch-hitter Kevin Kouzmanoff that made it 6-4.
Ben Sheets (2-4) allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk, striking out one to suffer his first loss in a month and end a string of four no-decisions.
Dustin Pedroia singled in a run in the seventh to make 5-3, and Marco Scutaro had three hits, including an RBI blooper in the eighth that gave Boston a 6-3 lead.
Ortiz hit .143 with one homer in April and .363 with 10 homers in May to earn AL player of the month honors — the fourth time he has been so honored, but the first since September, 2007. He also doubled and scored in the first inning, and in the seventh he was intentionally walked for the first time this year — a sure sign that opponents believe his slump is over.
Matsuzaka continued his inconsistent ways.
He took a no-hitter into the eighth inning two starts ago, and in his last outing he matched his career-high with eight walks and didn't make it out of the fifth in a 4-3 loss to Kansas City. He showed both forms on Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits in the first inning and then putting up five zeros in a row.
Notes
J.D. Drew hit his first triple since September. … Sweeney was 1-for-11 against Matsuzaka before getting two hits against him on Wednesday night. … Jon Lester was named the AL pitcher of the month, his third such honor. … Red Sox manager Terry Francona said former ace Josh Beckett won't throw for 10 days as he tries to recover from a lower back strain. … Red Sox C Victor Martinez, who had four doubles and five hits on Tuesday, was rested with a sore left big toe. He is scheduled to catch Tim Wakefield on Thursday.