LOS ANGELES, June 22 (UPI) -- Hideo Nomo won his fifth straight decision Friday night, and Eric Gagne struck out all four batters he faced to notch his major league-leading 26th save as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the major league-leading Boston Red Sox, 3-2.
Nomo (7-5) remained unbeaten since May 13, a span of seven starts, with another strong outing. The Japanese righthander allowed a run and five hits in seven innings. He worked around four walks and struck out four.
Nomo, a former Red Sox hurler, improved to 3-1 in his career against Boston. Giovanni Carrara replaced Nomo to start the eighth, but gave up Shea Hillenbrand's second homer of the game. With two outs and none on, Dodgers Manager Jim Tracy turned to his closer.
Gagne struck out Trot Nixon to end the eighth and Doug Mirabelli, Lou Merloni and Jason Varitek, in order, in the ninth. He has struck out 56 in 38 1/3 innings this season and has converted his last 16 save opportunities.
Red Sox starter John Burkett (7-3) lost his third straight start. The veteran righthander allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out four.
Boston fell to 45-25 this season, losing for just the 10th time in 38 road games.
