PAWTUCKET –– The Pawtucket Red Sox matched a season-high three-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens Monday night at McCoy Stadium.

PawSox starter Kris Johnson improved to 2-2 after working 5 2/3 solid innings, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

The PawSox got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when Rocco Baldelli’s sacrifice fly gave them a 1-0 lead. The Rhode Island native went 0-for-3 with the sac fly in his first rehab game with the team.

Gil Velazquez provided an RBI-single in the bottom of the fourth inning to give Pawtucket a two-run lead. That proved crucial, as the Mud Hens’ Ryan Roberson led off the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run.

Pawtucket closer Daniel Bard recorded his fifth save of the season, striking out two.

Fast friends

As Baldelli was returning from Tampa on Sunday in preparation to begin his rehab with the PawSox, his former Rays teammate and friend Carl Crawford was in the process of stealing six bases against the Red Sox.

Crawford and Baldelli came up through the Rays organization and the Rhode Island native is not surprised by Crawford’s recent accomplishments on the base paths. In fact, Crawford tied a major-league record with his six swipes in a single game, joining Otis Nixon, Eric Young and Eddie Collins.

Crawford said after Sunday’s game that he didn’t realize he had tied a record, and if he knew it, he would have tried to break it.

“I don’t think Carl is too worried about things like that unless you bring it to his attention,” said Baldelli. “It’s not something he’s going to go out of his way to figure out during the game because he’s worried about playing.”

Entering Monday’s game, Crawford was leading the league in that category with 17 steals. The most he’s recorded in a single season is 59, in 2004, and there’s already talk he could reach 100.

It’s hard for Baldelli to compare his current speedster teammate, Jacoby Ellsbury, with Crawford.

“I’ve watched Carl play for nine years and I’ve only seen Jacoby play for two months, so it’s hard to compare them. I’ve seen Jacoby steal a handful of bases because I haven’t been here that long, but they’re both great base-stealers.”

Dice-K goes tonight

Another rehabbing Red Sox player will be in Pawtucket on Tuesday when pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka arrives at McCoy Stadium. The right-hander has been on the DL since April 15 with a mild shoulder strain as a result of pitching in the World Baseball Classic for Japan. In two starts for the Red Sox this season, Dice-K is 0-1 with a 12.79 ERA.

In other rehab news, outfielder/first baseman Mark Kotsay (back) is listed as day-to-day after suffering a calf strain during his second rehab game for the PawSox on Sunday. He was still wearing a thermal wrap on his leg Monday.

Around the bases

The PawSox placed infielder Jeff Natale on the seven-day DL with an oblique strain and activated first baseman/DH Sandy Madera, who had been on the DL since the beginning of the season. … PawSox outfielder Zach Daeges continues to rehab his ankle strain in Fort Myers. The Red Sox prospect suffered the injury during spring training, but attempted to play through it once the season started until he was placed on the seven-day DL on April 23. He’ll remain in a walking boot for next few days, according to PawSox manager Ron Johnson.

jmcdonal@projo.com