Red Sox regain punch

With the Rays getting a no-hitter from Matt Garza in their victory against the Tigers, the Sox remained five games out in the wild-card race.

Buchholz was at the All-Star Game as well, but only as a uniformed spectator. A strained left hamstring put him on the disabled list and left him unable to pitch.

Now healthy, Buchholz showed why he was an All-Star. He allowed one run on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. He left after throwing 114 pitches.

“I thought he did a real good job,’’ said manager Terry Francona. “The first couple of innings he threw a lot of pitches, then he settled down.’’

With Daniel Bard unavailable after pitching in three of the previous four games, Scott Atchison started the eighth inning and allowed a two-run home run by Hideki Matsui, his fourth in six games. The umpires reviewed the shot and confirmed their initial call.

Jonathan Papelbon got the final four outs for his 23d save.

Boston relievers have allowed eight runs in the eighth inning of the last three games, further evidence of the team’s need for bullpen help as Saturday’s nonwaiver trade deadline approaches.

The Sox made Papelbon’s job easier in the top of the ninth by scoring two runs. Michael Kohn made his big-league debut to start the inning and walked Mike Cameron before Marco Scutaro singled and J.D. Drew followed with a two-run double.

There was welcome news before the game as the Sox activated Martinez off the disabled list. The All-Star catcher had been out since breaking a bone in his left thumb on June 27.

In his absence, Red Sox catchers had hit .162 with two RBIs. Martinez hit sixth in a batting order that now looks significantly deeper.

With the Red Sox trailing, 1-0, after the first inning, Martinez made an immediate impact.

Adrian Beltre led off the inning with a triple, his drive to deep center ticking off the glove of a leaping Torii Hunter. Martinez then lined the first pitch he saw into right field for an RBI single. It was the first RBI for a Boston catcher since June 29.