Aced out

“It’s always a goal of mine to battle hard and to try and hang on and not let them take the lead and give our offense a chance to get going, but I let them take the lead today,’’ Matsuzaka said through interpreter Masa Hoshino. “I usually don’t feel too many regrets over the actual pitches that I threw, but that one pitch today I am a little disappointed in.’’

Instead of being in, the pitch crept over the middle of the plate, and Robinson Cano knocked it out to left field for a homer. The Yankees led, 1-0, enough for CC Sabathia, the man seeking to earn every cent of his $161 million contract. The Sox managed just two hits, one off the big lefthander, who improved to 19-7.

Despite Matsuzaka’s one big mistake, the Sox were encouraged by Matsuzaka’s outing, no matter how dramatic it was at times.

“I think the answer that he’s back is that he got the bases loaded and got right out of that,’’ Francona said of the fifth inning. “Seems to be a comfort level there. All the things that happened, it comes down for him to a fastball that he tried to get in to Cano that stays in the middle, he hits it out. Against that lineup to give up the one, I thought was really a strong effort.’’

Sabathia was better, though, as the Yankees lowered their magic number to one, setting up a chance to clinch the American League East and sweep the Sox today.

“Sure, we want to play better,’’ said Mike Lowell, who had the Sox’ first hit, a single to center to start the fifth. “But I don’t think how we played over two games - we played very well in Baltimore, we played well in Kansas City except for maybe the first game, and we played great on the homestand. I don’t look at a sample size of two games. You never want to get swept by anyone. It would be great for us to win and to end the trip on a decent note, then come back home, take care of the last few games of the season.

“I don’t think anyone wants to see other people have a party on your account.’’