BOSTON, April 23 (UPI) -- Gary Matthews hit two of Los Angeles' three solo homers Wednesday, helping carry the Angels to a 6-4 win over Boston.
The Angels had expected to face Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has won his last four starts, but he was scratched as the Boston starter after developing flu-like symptoms.
His absence forced the Red Sox to alter their rotation for the second straight night. Josh Beckett failed to start as scheduled Tuesday because of a stiff neck.
Jon Lester got the start Wednesday for Boston and he gave up four runs on five hits. The loss, however, went to Craig Hansen, who surrendered a sixth-inning homer to Casey Kotchman that gave the Angels a 5-4 lead.
The homers by Matthews, which ran his total to five this season, came in the first and fifth innings.
Los Angeles starter Jon Garland (3-2) gave up four runs on eight hits in six innings to get the win. Francisco Rodriguez worked the ninth for his eighth save.
