BOSTON – The Washington Nationals have quite a one-two punch in their starting rotation.

Gio Gonzalez followed Stephen Strasburg’s strong effort a night earlier by pitching 6 1/3 effective innings to carry the Nationals to a 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

Gonzalez held Boston to two hits and no runs before leaving with two runners on in the seventh.

“We’re talking about two guys that are such talented guys, they have great stuff,” said Nationals catcher Jesus Flores, who caught both games.

One night earlier, Strasburg held Boston to two runs over six innings, striking out 13.

Adam LaRoche hit a solo homer and Washington spoiled Daisuke Matsuzaka’s return from reconstructive elbow surgery with its second straight win over the Red Sox.

Ian Desmond had a two-run single and Michael Morse added an RBI double during a three-run fourth for Washington.

Matsuzaka (0-1), making his first major league start since undergoing Tommy John surgery last June 10, gave up four runs and five hits over five innings, striking out eight and walking one.

n The Red Sox designated OF Marlon Byrd before the game to make room for Matsuzaka.

 

ANGELS 11, ROCKIES 5: Albert Pujols homered and singled to drive in four runs, Mike Trout had three hits, including a two-run single, and Dan Haren pitched effectively into the sixth inning to lead Los Angeles to its eighth straight road win.

 

YANKEES 4, METS 2: Mark Teixeira hit a go-ahead homer and Phil Hughes won his third straight decision, sending the Yankees to a win at home.

 

RAYS 13, MARLINS 4: Ben Zobrist homered twice and drove in four runs to lead Tampa Bay at Miami.

 

ORIOLES 6, PHILLIES 4: Adam Jones hit a two-run homer in the 12th and host Baltimore won its eighth straight extra-inning game.

 

TIGERS 3, REDS 2: Prince Fielder homered before driving in the tie-breaking run with a two-out single in the eighth inning to lift Detroit at Cincinnati.

 

CARDINALS 2, INDIANS 0: Kyle Lohse allowed three hits in 72/3 innings to outduel Justin Masterson, and Carlos Beltran hit his National League-leading 17th home run in St. Louis’ win at home.

 

WHITE SOX 10, ASTROS 1: Chris Sale pitched eight shutout innings to earn his fifth straight win, and Adam Dunn had a grand slam and five RBI to lead Chicago at home.

 

GIANTS 5, RANGERS 2: Ryan Vogelsong pitched a season-high 72/3 innings and won his fifth straight decision, Nate Schierholtz hit an RBI triple and San Francisco beat visiting Texas.

 

BRAVES 5, BLUE JAYS 2: Tommy Hanson shut down another AL East team, Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer and Atlanta beat visiting Toronto for its season-best sixth straight win.

 

TWINS 11, CUBS 3: Trevor Plouffe had a double, a homer and four RBI and Scott Diamond pitched six scoreless innings to lead Minnesota over visiting Chicago.

 

PIRATES 5, ROYALS 3: Neil Walker drove in the go-ahead run in the fourth inning as host Pittsburgh won its third straight.

 

DODGERS 8, MARINERS 3: A day after getting no-hit, Los Angeles rebounded to win at Seattle as Jerry Hairston Jr. had a career-best five RBI and Clayton Kershaw struck out a season-high 12.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

PADRES 5, BREWERS 2: Ross Ohlendorf had a strong relief outing and San Diego strung together four consecutive singles in a sixth-inning rally to win at Milwaukee.