OAKLAND -- The game seemed already lost when Daisuke Matsuzaka left in the second inning, with the Red Sox trailing 4-1.
Clayton Mortensen made sure it didn't get worse for the Red Sox by preserving overuse of the bullpen.
The righthander gave the Sox five solid innings, allowing just one run on two hits.
"I was scared to death we were going to wear out the pen," said Bobby Valentine. "The bad news is Daisuke didn't pitch very well; the good news is that Mortensen saved the bullpen.
Mortensen hadn't pitched since last Wednesday on the final homestand, but was sharp enough to get the Sox through the seventh inning.
"It's always nice to go out and pick our team up when something like that happens," said Mortensen. "It's huge to go out and soak up some innings so our bullpen can be fresh for the rest of the series we've got against these guys.
"They play us tough, so we're going to need all the pitching we can get. So it was nice. I was happy with it. I was a little disappointed I had to give up one of Dice's (inherited) runs. That kind of ate at me a little bit. But to be able to log in five (innings) was nice."
Boston Red Sox
Mortensen, who has started and relieved in his career, has been designated the long man in the bullpen. He sports a tidy 1.35 ERA in his two stints with Boston this season.
"I've just been trying to attack the zone," he said, "and make guys put the ball in play. We've got a tremendous defense so as long as I can fool them a little bit and get them to put in play to one of my guys, I've got all the confidence in the world in them."
The big challenge for Mortensen is to stay sharp, even though he might go four or five games in between appearances.
"I've gotten used to it," he said. "I try to just work with my throwing program as much as possible, throwing on flat ground and bullpens occasionally here and there. I still felt like I was on point. It mainly goes to my throwing program and trying to repeat my delivery as much as possible."
Mortensen has been optioned back to Pawtucket once already this season and may soon suffer the same fate. The Sox have 13 pitchers currently but not enough position players on the bench and he could be sacrificed Tuesday in order to get some help here to help cover for the absence of third baseman Will Middlebrooks (hamstring).