J.D. Drew hit a three-run home run and Mike Lowell added a two-run single in the ninth for the Red Sox, who stayed half a game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.
Matsuzaka (9-1) bounced back from his awful outing against the St. Louis Cardinals last weekend, his first start since he came off the disabled list with a mild strain in his rotator cuff. He gave up seven runs and six hits in one inning in that one but atoned for that by fanning the first three Astros he faced Friday.
Lance Berkman led off the second with a single, but Dice-K set down 10 of the next 11 batters, allowing only a walk to Houston starting pitcher Runelvys Hernandez.
Drew helped Boston’s Japanese ace with a long homer in the third after Coco Crisp walked and Dustin Pedroia doubled. Drew snapped a 0-for-14 drought with his 15th homer.
Houston loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, the only real scoring threat Matsuzaka faced. After a visit from pitching coach John Farrell, Matsuzaka got David Newhan to pop up for the final out.
Craig Hansen relieved Matsuzaka for the sixth and needed eight pitches to retire the Astros in order. Pedroia tacked on an RBI single in the seventh off reliever Chris Sampson.
Reggie Abercrombie hit a solo homer off Hideki Okajima in the eighth, the first run allowed by Boston’s bullpen in 12 innings. Miguel Tejada singled before Boston manager Terry Francona brought in closer Jonathan Papelbon, who struck out Berkman.
The Red Sox loaded the bases in the ninth and Lowell singled to center off Doug Brocail. Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 24th save.
The Astros’ punchless offense ruined a solid start by the 30-year-old Hernandez, who was called up from Triple-A Round Rock to take Shawn Chacon’s spot in the rotation.
Houston placed Chacon on waivers Thursday, one day after he got into a physical confrontation with general manager Ed Wade in the Astros’ clubhouse.
Hernandez was 6-3 with a 3.72 ERA in 15 starts with Round Rock before the Astros purchased his contract.
NOTES: Pedroia has hit safely in his last nine road games. . . . Crisp will begin serving a five-game suspension today. Major League Baseball cut two days off his original seven-game suspension for his role in a benches-clearing brawl during Boston’s June 5 game against Tampa Bay. . . . Boston has beaten every National League opponent on the road except the Los Angeles Dodgers (0-3).
