BOSTONIt quickly appeared Daisuke Matsuzakas fourth start of the season would go the way of his previous start when he threw 33 pitches in the first inning against the Marlins, facing seven batters and allowing three of them to score.
But although Matsuzaka got off to a rough start Tuesday night, he eventually settled down -- and the offense woke up -- as they topped the Blue Jays, 5-1.
Matsuzaka allowed three of the first four batters he faced to reach base. Brett Lawrie led off with a 3-2 double to left, Colby Rasmus reached on 3-1 fielders choice, with Lawrie taking third. After Jose Bautista popped out on a 3-1 pitch to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia in foul territory, Edwin Encarnacion singled to Will Middlebrooks at third base on the first pitch, scoring Lawrie.
After that, he held the Blue Jays scoreless for the rest of his outing, giving way to Scott Atchison with two outs and two on the sixth. Atchison needed just two pitches to get out of the inning.
Matsuzaka went 5 23 innings, giving up one run on six hits and walk with five strikeouts. He threw 100 pitches, 60 for strikes, but was not involved in the decision.
The Sox batters, meanwhile, could do little with left-hander Aaron Laffey, who was making his first start since July 19, 2010, for the Indians. He had made 55 combined appearances in the interim for the Indians, the Mariners and Yankees in 2011, and the Blue Jays this season. So, they just waited for the game to get turned over to the Toronto bullpen in the seventh.
The Sox scored five runs on six hits off four Toronto relievers in the seventh and eighth innings. The barrage was bookended by Jarrod Saltalamacchias two-out solo home run off Jason Frasor to tie the game in the seventh and Will Middlebrooks sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Boston Red Sox
Andrew Miller earned the win, pitching one-third of an inning, improving his record to 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA.
Alfredo Aceves earned his 19th save in 22 opportunities with a scoreless ninth.
Luis Perez took the loss for Toronto.