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Dice-K dominates as Red Sox shut out Blue Jays

Sep 22, 2008 - 3:59 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- The magic number is down to one for the Boston Red Sox.

Daisuke Matsuzaka tossed six strong innings and David Ortiz homered to lead the Red Sox to a 3-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

With seven games remaining in the season and a seven-game lead in the American League wild card standings, Boston (91-64) can clinch its second consecutive postseason berth with a win against Cleveland on Monday.

Matsuzaka (18-2) allowed two hits and walked two while striking out five to move into a tie for third place in wins in the AL. The Japanese righthander also leads the league in batting average against and ranks second with a 2.80 ERA.

"It was one of those days where (Matsuzaka) had his stuff, we got enough early and he settled down a little bit," Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay said. "Going forward and into the playoffs, you want guys to start getting a little momentum, and he's got that."

Matsuzaka ran into trouble once when he allowed a leadoff double to Vernon Wells in the second inning. Wells moved to third on a groundout and Lyle Overbay walked before Matsuzaka struck out Scott Rolen and Travis Snider to end the threat.

"Dice works out a jam early, where they could have tied the game with a man on third and less than two outs," Boston captain Jason Varitek said. "He made some good pitches and kept the game there for David (Ortiz) to hit a two-run homer."

The Red Sox jumped on the board in the first when Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a triple and came in to score on Dustin Pedroia's sacrifice fly.

Ellsbury doubled with one out in third and moved up on a groundout before Ortiz drove a 3-2 pitch from righthander Scott Richmond to the opposite field for his 22nd home run.

"That's one of the best hitters in the game, right there," Richmond said. "I threw him a 3-1 changeup and well located there, then I threw it 3-2 and it was off the plate about six inches and he still got it. It's disappointing - 3-2 count, 2 out. If anything, I could have walked him and faced the next guy, but it happens."

Boston did all of its damage against the 29-year-old rookie Richmond (0-3), who struck out four and allowed five hits in five frames.

"Scott Richmond pitched great and the guys out of the bullpen did a good job," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "We had just three hits and couldn't score any runs today. Otherwise, the pitchers did a great job for us."

Ellsbury finished 3-for-4 in extending his hitting streak to 12 games.

Hideki Okajima pitched a spotless eighth and Jonathan Papelbon worked the ninth for his 40th save.