After Matsuzaka had given up four runs in the sixth inning, Atchison came in with two outs. He needed but four pitches to get Nolan Reimold looking, stranding Matt Wieters on second base.
And it didn’t end there, as Atchison followed that with five more outs, including two more strikeouts. It was Atchison at his best, a pitcher who has been a quiet, yet effective part of the Sox bullpen for most of the season.
“We were keeping them pretty off balance with the cutter, in and outside with it,’’ Atchison said. “Just felt good and was following [catcher Victor Martinez’s] lead.
“You want to have their trust enough that they can put you in those situations. Those are the situations you want to pitch in. You want to pitch when the game’s on the line.’’
Because Bard was unavailable, Atchison became the bridge to Jonathan Papelbon.
With the Sox up, 6-4, the closer gave up singles to the first two batters he faced. They moved up on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Corey Patterson, leaving it to the bottom of the Orioles’ order. Papelbon struck out Cesar Izturis and Josh Bell for his 35th save in 41 chances.
Matsuzaka, in his first start since skipping a turn because of back soreness, pitched extremely well over the first five innings. He got the first 10 outs without giving up a hit, the only blemish an error by Mike Lowell at first. But that runner, Luke Scott, was erased on a double play, meaning Matsuzaka had faced only the minimum through 3 1/3 innings.
It would end there, as Nick Markakis doubled to left. That hit barely made a dent for Matsuzaka, though, as he quickly got the next two hitters. The Orioles added just one more hit, also a double, before the sixth, as Matsuzaka showed off his good side, not the slow-as-molasses, nibbling pitcher who has been seen far too many times.
“I think I did a good job for the first five innings, holding the opposing hitters, but it was the first time since I had aggravated my back that I really threw at full strength,’’ Matsuzaka said through interpreter Masa Hoshino, adding that his back did not bother him last night.
