BOSTON — A wild Daisuke Matsuzaka labored through five innings before the Boston Red Sox's overworked bullpen bailed him out for a sloppy 8-5 win over the New York Yankees on Sunday night.
Matsuzaka improved to 3-0 after lasting just long enough to get the win as he issued six walks — at least one in each inning. But Yankees starter Phil Hughes (0-2) was even worse, lasting a career-low two innings and allowing a career-high seven runs.
New York did have some high points:
Johnny Damon's steal after leading off the game with a walk was the Yankees' first of the season, ending a 12-game drought. It was their longest at the start of a season since 1948 when a 16-game streak ended with a double steal by Phil Rizzuto and Tommy Henrich.
And Jason Giambi's homer in the eighth was his second of the season and the series, both off Mike Timlin.
But New York never led as Boston scored three runs in the first and four in the third when Hughes left with no outs.
WHITE SOX 11, TIGERS 0: At Chicago, Joe Crede and Paul Konerko each hit grand slams to back Javier Vazquez's strong start, and the White Sox pounded the struggling Tigers.
ROYALS 5, TWINS 1: At Kansas City, Brian Bannister threw his second career complete game and outpitched Francisco Liriano, who was making his first start since 2006, to help end a three-game skid.
INDIANS 7, ATHLETICS 1: At Cleveland, Cliff Lee's quick and efficient pitching in the wind and cold helped the Indians end Oakland's five-game winning streak.
RAYS 6, ORIOLES 2: At St. Petersburg, Jeff Niemann allowed one run over six innings in his major league debut and B.J. Upton hit a three-run homer during a six-run fifth for the Rays.
BLUE JAYS 5, RANGERS 4 (10): At Arlington, Joe Inglett drove in the tiebreaking run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, B.J. Ryan earned his first save in more than a year and Toronto completed a three-game sweep of the Rangers.
ANGELS 10, MARINERS 5: At Seattle, Jeff Mathis hit a two-run homer to lead a 16-hit attack, and Joe Saunders had another strong start to help Los Angeles avoid a series sweep.
National League
PADRES 1, DODGERS 0: At Los Angeles, Greg Maddux recorded his 349th career victory one day before his 42nd birthday and Paul McAnulty drove in the only run with a sacrifice fly, leading San Diego to a victory over the Dodgers.
NATIONALS 5, BRAVES 4: At Washington, Atlanta starter Tom Glavine left with an injury before recording an out, and the Washington Nationals ended their nine-game losing streak.
BREWERS 9, METS 7: At New York, Gabe Kapler, who managed in the Red Sox organization last season, homered for the second straight day, doubled twice and drove in three runs to help Milwaukee beat the Mets.
ASTROS 5, MARLINS 1: At Houston, Wandy Rodriguez (1-0) struck out seven and allowed five hits in seven strong innings, and J.R. Towles and Michael Bourn homered to lead the Astros, who've won two in a row for the first time this season.
PIRATES 9, REDS 1: At Pittsburgh, Ryan Doumit, Xavier Nady and Jason Bay homered and Tom Gorzelanny (1-1) limited the Reds to one run and four hits to outpitch Cincinnati rookie Johnny Cueto, leading the Pirates to a three-game sweep of the Reds.
CUBS 6, PHILLIES 5 (10): At Philadelphia, second baseman Chase Utley's throwing error allowed Ronny Cedeno to score the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and the Cubs beat the Phillies to avoid a three-game sweep.
GIANTS 7, CARDINALS 4: At San Francisco, Tim Lincecum struck out 11 in six innings and rookie John Bowker homered for the second straight day and drove in four runs for the Giants.
ROCKIES 13, DIAMONDBACKS 5: At Phoenix, Clint Barmes, Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins homered, and Colorado Rockies snapped the Diamondbacks' eight-game win streak.