Wed Apr 23 11:01:45 2008

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Dice-K goes for fifth in a row in BoSox' finale with Angels

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(Sports Network) - Daisuke Matsuzaka tries to win his fifth straight start this evening, when the Boston Red Sox continue their three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Fenway Park.

Matsuzaka continued his impressive beginning to the season Friday against Texas, as he gave up three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings to run his record to 4-0 to go along with a 3.14 earned run average.

The 27-year-old right-hander has never faced the Angels in the regular season, but received a no decision against them in last October's American League Division Series. He surrendered three runs and seven hits while throwing 96 pitches in just 4 2/3 innings of a 6-3 Boston win.

Los Angeles will counter with right-hander Jon Garland, who is 2-2 with a 4.81 ERA this season. Garland earned the win on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals, as he allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 frames.

Garland is 3-5 lifetime against the Red Sox with a 5.53 ERA in 12 games, nine of which have been starts.

In the opener of this set on Tuesday, Jacoby Ellsbury had his first career two-home run game and scored the winning run on Dustin Pedroia's eighth- inning double as the red-hot Red Sox pulled out a 7-6 win.

Ellsbury went 3-for-5 with three runs scored for the Red Sox, who have won six straight and 10 of 11 overall. Pedroia went 4-for-5 with three doubles, a run scored and a run batted in, while Kevin Youkilis added a two-run homer to help the Sox win their seventh straight home game.

Mike Timlin (2-1) only had to record one out in the eighth inning to earn the win, while Jonathan Papelbon worked a scoreless ninth for his eighth save.

Josh Beckett was scheduled to start for Boston on Tuesday, but was a late scratch with a sore neck. Instead, David Pauley was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket and appeared in his first major league game since 2006. He allowed five runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings and did not factor in the decision.

Jeff Mathis went 2-for-4 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored for the Angels, who have dropped two straight. Garret Anderson went 2-for-5 and knocked in two runs, while Casey Kotchman added a solo homer.

Darren Oliver (1-1) took the loss after allowing one run on two hits in an inning of relief. Angels starter Jered Weaver was roughed up for five runs on 10 hits over five innings.

Anaheim's Chone Figgins extended his hitting streak to 13 games in the loss, one shy of his career high.

Boston won six of its 10 regular-season matchups with the Angels a year ago and is 16-11 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. Los Angeles is also just 6-11 in Beantown in that time.