"In addition to baseball, Fenway Park has hosted hockey games, soccer matches, concerts and movie premieres this year. After watching Daisuke Matsuzaka pitch, tight-rope walks can be added to the ballpark's growing list of entertainment acts.

Last night's 4-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles was the latest installment of Matsuzaka's high-wire act.

At times, the right-hander was able to navigate out of trouble. But, as has been the case throughout his career, Matsuzaka's control of the strike zone wobbled and his outing was ultimately tripped up. He took the loss after allowing four earned runs, six hits and five walks in 6 innings.

When asked to rate his performance, Matsuzaka (9-6, 4.86 ERA) paused for 11 seconds before offering, "I think the result - the fact that we lost the game - I think says it all."

The shaky outing said a lot about an uneven season for Matsuzaka, who has allowed at least four earned runs in each of his last seven starts. He is 1-3 with a 6.91 ERA during the stretch.

"I don't think it's any one or two specific reasons," Matsuzaka said, "but to be honest, I really don't know."

The game began in typical Matsuzaka fashion. He threw 22 pitches in the first inning, but allowed only one run thanks largely to Fenway's forgiving dimensions in center and right fields.

After Brian Roberts led off with a single, Matsuzaka walked Nick Markakis. Matsuzaka retired the next three batters on fly balls that traveled about 1,100 feet combined, with Roberts scoring on a Luke Scott sacrifice fly to center.

Matsuzaka was touched for another run in the fourth inning, but he entered the seventh with the score tied at 2."