Matsuzaka gives Red Sox big boost

BOSTON -- Daisuke Matsuzaka’s outstanding pitching and the familiar look of Fenway Park were just what the Boston Red Sox needed coming home from a trip in which they lost seven of 10 games.

Manny Ramirez hit a run-scoring single in the eighth inning Monday to lift Boston to a 1-0 victory over Minnesota in a splendid matchup between Matsuzaka and the Twins’ Scott Baker.

“That was probably his best outing as far as his ability to command the strike zone,” Boston catcher Jason Varitek said of Matsuzaka. “It’s good. It seemed like our bats were a little slow. We needed a good pitching performance.”

Dustin Pedroia extended his career-high hitting streak to 15 games with a double high off the Green Monster on the first pitch from reliever Brian Bass (3-3) in the eighth. After J. D. Drew advanced Pedroia to third, Ramirez lined a single to right through a drawn-in infield.

Matsuzaka pitched 7 1/3 innings, giving up six hits, walking three and striking out five.