Matsuzaka wriggles free of M’s

SEATTLE – Daisuke Matsuzaka got himself into trouble nearly every inning and pitched his way out of it. Jarrod Washburn found himself in only two big jams and he was burned both times.

Matsuzaka made key pitches when anything less would have cost him a big inning, and that became the difference for the Boston Red Sox in a 4-3 victory Saturday night over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

“Matsuzaka has got the ability to raise his game when he needs to,” Mariners manager John McLaren said. “He was special tonight.”

The outcome kept the Mariners 2 1/2 games out of first place in the American League West after the division-leading Los Angeles Angels also lost. It also ended a nine-game Mariners winning streak over the Red Sox at Safeco Field, including four straight this season.

The Mariners made a late run against the Red Sox bullpen, scoring once off Eric Gagne in the eighth to pull within a run, and they had runners on first and second with two outs in the ninth before closer Jonathan Papelbon got Adrian Beltre to pop up to end the game.

The Mariners had plenty of opportunities against Matsuzaka, who was 0-1 in his previous three starts this season against the M’s and was hardly in complete control this time.

They thumped him for six hits, including solo home runs by Beltre in the second inning and Yuniesky Betancourt in the seventh, and four others reached on walks or hit batters.

Matsuzaka retired the Mariners in order only in the first inning, and he pitched with at least two runners on base and less than two outs in the third, fourth and sixth.

Strikeouts saved Matsuzaka, who threw his pitches in all shapes, speeds and locations to fan 10 Mariners.

“We had a couple of chances, but he made some pitches and pitched out of a couple of jams,” McLaren said. “He showed me something tonight. You don’t have a lot of pitchers who can have that ability. Randy (Johnson) had that ability, and Roger Clemens and guys like that. I was really impressed.”