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Matsuzaka and Manny help Red Sox edge Giants
2007-06-17
Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched seven shutout innings for his first win since May 25, guiding the Red Sox to a 1-0 win over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. Manny Ramirez delivered the game-winning run in the fourth inning with a solo homer, his ninth of the season. Matsuzaka gave up three hits and struck out eight in raising his Major League record to 8-5. Fellow Japanese import Hideki Okajima pitched out of a troublesome eighth inning and Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save. Matsuzaka pitched out of a serious jam in the sixth. "I found a side of myself I haven't been able to show yet," he told reporters through an interpreter. "I hope it's a sign that I'm moving in the right direction." San Francisco right-hander Matt Cain was a hard-luck loser, falling to 2-7 despite a fine 3.15 ERA. "He pitched a great game," said manager Bruce Bochy. Cain, who allowed three hits, retired the last 11 batters he faced, leaving after seven innings. Barry Bonds, who has homered just twice since May 8 as he pursues Hank Aaron's all-time home run record, was 0-for-3 with an intentional walk, again hearing boos from the Fenway Park crowd every time he appeared on the field. After Matsuzaka got him to ground out with men on first and second and nobody out in the sixth, Bonds then faced Okajima with two on and no outs in the eighth. But he took three straight pitches down the middle for a strikeout, much to the delight of the capacity crowd. *The San Diego Padres pulled out a 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. *The New York Yankees made it 10 wins in 11 games and evened the Subway Series with the struggling New York Mets at 1-1 with an 11-8 triumph. *Ken Griffey Jr. hit homers Nos. 580 and 581 and David Ross also homered twice in the Cincinnati Reds' 8-4 win over the Texas Rangers. *The surging Philadelphia Phillies moved to within two games of the NL East lead with a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers. *The Atlanta Braves got to within a game and a half of the that NL East lead as Edgar Renteria went 5-for-5 including a homer and John Smoltz won his eighth in a 6-2 win over the Cleveland Indians.
Valentin's winning single caps Harang gem for Reds (2007-07-24)Cubs beat Rockies for sixth consecutive win (2007-06-28)Matsuzaka and Manny help Red Sox edge Giants (2007-06-17)Cubs' Marquis wins 5th straight start (2007-05-10)Cardinals win first game since pitcher's death (2007-05-05)
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