BOSTON — The Red Sox began the game with a pitcher who couldn't find the plate. The Yankees ended it with a catcher who couldn't even throw.

Daisuke Matsuzaka walked six batters and barely made it through the fifth inning, but was bailed out by the bullpen as Boston beat New York, 8-5, in a weird game on a cold Sunday night.

There were 14 walks, two wild pitches, one passed ball and two steals on which sore-armed Jorge Posada — who took over for an injured Jose Molina — didn't even throw in the eighth when Boston padded its lead. And Yankees starter Phil Hughes lasted a career-low two innings and allowed a career-high seven runs.

"On a night that wasn't really baseball weather," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said, "we did some good things."

Matsuzaka improved to 3-0 after lasting just long enough to get the win.

"It was a stressful performance from the outset," Matsuzaka said. "I had a hard time getting strikes with all my pitches, not just the fastball."

Boston's relievers did a good job, except for Mike Timlin, who gave up a homer to Jason Giambi for the second time in the series in the eighth. David Aardsma pitched two scoreless innings after Matsuzaka, and Javier Lopez and Manny Delcarmen followed Timlin.

"We had to piece it together," catcher Jason Varitek said. "Hopefully, it gives our bullpen a little confidence."

Johnny Damon's steal after leading off the game with a walk was the Yankees' first of the season, ending a 12-game drought. It was their longest streak without a steal at the start of a season since 1948 when a 16-game streak ended with a double steal by Phil Rizzuto and Tommy Henrich.

New York never led as Boston scored three runs in the first and four in the third when Hughes left with no outs. He walked three.

"I don't make too much of" Hughes' control problems, manager Joe Girardi said. "Obviously, it's not where we want him to be. He'll get better. He'll get where he needs to be. I have faith. I believe in my guys."

The Yankees were forced to move Posada from designated hitter to catcher in the eighth after Molina hurt his hamstring and was lifted for a pinch runner. Coco Crisp and Dustin Pedroia stole without drawing a throw. Crisp then scored on Jacoby Ellsbury's sacrifice fly to make it 8-5.

"That was huge for us," Kevin Youkilis said. "A three-run ballgame is a lot different."

Blue Jays 5, Rangers 4: Joe Inglett drove in the tiebreaking run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning and B.J. Ryan earned his first save in more than a year as visiting Toronto completed a three-game sweep of Texas. Before the game, Ryan was activated from the disabled list and the Blue Jays sent Saint Louis School alum Brandon League to Triple-A Syracuse. League, a right-hander, appeared in two games for Toronto with no record, allowing two runs in 2 2/3 innings. League graduated from Saint Louis in 2001.

White Sox 11, Tigers 0: Joe Crede and Paul Konerko each hit grand slams as Chicago rolled over visiting Detroit. It was the third time the White Sox have hit two grand slams in one game. The last time Chicago did it was May 19, 1996.

Royals 5, Twins 1: Brian Bannister (3-0) threw his second career complete game as Kansas City beat visiting Minnesota. Bannister gave up only three hits, walking one and striking out three.

Indians 7, Athletics 1: Cliff Lee's quick and efficient pitching in the wind and cold helped host Cleveland end Oakland's five-game winning streak. Lee (2-0) struck out eight without a walk as a wind-whipped mix of snow and rain fell throughout.

Rays 6, Orioles 2: Jeff Niemann allowed one run over six innings in his major league debut and B.J. Upton hit a three-run homer to lead host Tampa Bay over Baltimore.

Angels 10, Mariners 5: Jeff Mathis hit a two-run homer to lead a 16-hit attack as visiting Los Angeles beat Seattle.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Padres 1, Dodgers 0: Greg Maddux (2-0) recorded his 349th career victory one day before his 42nd birthday and Paul McAnulty drove in the only run with a sacrifice fly, leading visiting San Diego over Los Angeles.

Nationals 5, Braves 4: Atlanta starter Tom Glavine (0-1) left with an injury before recording an out, and host Washington ended its nine-game losing streak. Glavine matched the shortest start of his 22-season, 303-win career, departing with a strained right hamstring after letting all four batters he faced reach base. He was replaced by Jeff Bennett, who got a double play grounder that scored a run to give Washington a 2-0 lead. Both runs were charged to Glavine.

Brewers 9, Mets 7: Gabe Kapler, who managed in the Red Sox organization last season, homered for the second straight day, doubled twice and drove in three runs to help Milwaukee beat host New York.

Astros 5, Marlins 1: Wandy Rodriguez (1-0) struck out seven and allowed five hits in seven innings as host Houston beat Florida.

Pirates 9, Reds 1: Ryan Doumit, Xavier Nady and Jason Bay homered, and Tom Gorzelanny (1-1) limited the Reds to one run and four hits as host Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati.

Cubs 6, Phillies 5: Second baseman Chase Utley's throwing error allowed Ronny Cedeno to score the go-ahead run in the 10th inning as visiting Chicago beat Philadelphia.

Giants 7, Cardinals 4: Tim Lincecum (2-0) struck out 11 in six innings and rookie John Bowker homered for the second straight day and drove in four runs as host San Francisco beat St. Louis.

Rockies 13, Diamondbacks 5: Clint Barmes, Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins homered as visiting Colorado snapped Arizona's eight-game win streak.