A look back at sports
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Sports pictures of the year
From a nail-biting pass at Superbowl XLIII to a bloody WBO World Welterwight fight, here's a look at the best sports photos of 2009. Slideshow
Matsuzaka powers Red Sox to 6-1 win over Astros
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka rebounded from one of the worst outings of his career by propelling the Boston Red Sox to a 6-1 road win over the Houston Astros on Friday.
It Matsuzaka's second start since he was placed on the disabled list on May 30 because of a mild rotator cuff strain.
In his return last week against the St. Louis Cardinals, "Dice-K" was charged with seven runs in just one inning -- the shortest pitching stint of his career.
This time he was much sharper, working in just five innings and not allowing a run. Matsuzaka also struck out four batters in picking up his ninth win of the year against one loss.
Right fielder J.D. Drew ignited Boston's offence with a three-run home run blast in the third inning, his 15th of the year.
Second-baseman Dustin Pedroia gave Boston a 4-0 lead in the seventh with an RBI single and finished 3-for-4 with two runs. Kevin Youkilis was 4-for-5 for the American League-leading Red Sox (50-32), who added two more runs in the ninth.
The Astros' offense was stymied for much of the game, recording only four hits. Pinch-hitter Reggie Abercrombie hit a solo homer off of reliever Hideki Okajima to get Houston on the board in the eighth inning.
Houston fell to 37-43 with the loss.
(Reporting by Jahmal Corner; Editing by Alastair Himmer)
