The Boston Red Sox got an unexpected power surge from the bottom of their lineup to help Daisuke Matsuzaka remain undefeated with a 5-2 victory over Minnesota on Saturday. Coco Crisp and Jed Lowrie hit back-to-back homers to lead off the seventh inning and Matsuzaka (6-0) gave up two runs and six hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings for the Sox.
In his first big league start, Glen Perkins (0-1) had little trouble with big boppers David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell in the middle of Boston's lineup. They combined to go 1-for-9 with a single and no RBIs against the lefty, but the Red Sox got a big boost from hitters No. 8 and 9 in the order. (More Minnesota Twins stories.)