Boston, MA (Best E Casino) - Daisuke Matsuzaka tossed six solid innings, and Jed Lowrie smashed a key two-run triple as the Boston Red Sox downed the Oakland Athletics, 5-2, to complete a three-game sweep at Fenway Park.

Matsuzaka (12-2) rebounded from a loss to the Angels on Monday by allowing just four hits and striking out eight while walking two for the Red Sox, winners of three straight after dropping five of their previous six. Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth for his 31st save of the season.

"Today my fastball and breaking ball were good so I felt I was able to pitch well, overall," Matsuzaka said. "I wanted to keep throwing into the seventh inning but with the rain and everything, even if I were able to stay in the game, that would have been the end of my start."

Coco Crisp knocked in a pair of runs, while Jason Bay went 2-for-4 and scored twice. Kevin Youkilis went 2-for-4 with a double and a run batted in.

Daric Barton clubbed a two-run homer for the A's, who are mired in a six-game losing streak. Dallas Braden (2-2) was tagged for four runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings to take the loss.

Boston picked up a run in the first and never looked back, as Dustin Pedroia cracked a leadoff double and Youkilis chased him home with a single.

The Red Sox then added three runs in the fourth to pull clear. Mike Lowell doubled with one out and Bay singled him to third before Lowrie crushed a fly ball to the deepest part of the ballpark in center for a triple. Santiago Casilla came in to relieve Braden, but walked Jason Varitek before Crisp gave Boston a 4-0 lead with a sacrifice fly.

"In limited at-bats, he's gotten some big hits, some timely hits, but he's played the game and blended in like our young guys do," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said of Lowrie. "Mixed in with the veterans, he's helping us win."

Barton's homer pulled two runs back in the fifth, as after Bobby Crosby worked a one-out walk, Barton hammered a first-pitch cutter just over the wall and into the bullpen in right.

But, the Sox countered with a run in the sixth and the A's never responded. Bay led off with a single against Joey Devine, and after a walk to Lowrie and a passed ball put runners on second and third, rain forced a 37 minute delay. After the skies cleared, Alan Embree came on in relief and, one batter later, Crisp lofted his second sac fly of the game.

Hideki Okajima and Manny Delcarmen each worked a scoreless inning in relief before Papelbon finished off the sweep in the ninth.

Game Notes

The Red Sox won despite going just 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position...Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz picked up his first stolen base of the season...Lowrie's triple was the first of his career...Oakland fell to 2-13 since returning from the All-Star break.