TOKYO -- In their first-ever game in Japan, the Red Sox scored five runs in the first two innings, then managed to hold off the Hanshin Tigers, 6-5, on Saturday night

The Sox rode the long ball in the first inning, getting an oppostie-field solo shot from David Ortiz and a three-run belt from J.D. Drew to grab a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The lead grew to 5-0 in the top of the second when Kevin Youkilis delivered the first of two run-scoring singles.

But the Tigers took advantage of some mistakes by starter Clay Buchholz and answered with four runs of their own in the second. Norihiro Akahoshi had a two-run double and Keiichi Hirano later provided a two-run single.

“Overall,” said Buchholz, “I thought it went pretty well. I left a couple of pitches up over the plate and that hurt. I thought I was able to keep the ball down most of the time.”

“I thought he was up with some pitches,” Terry Francona said in evaluating Buchholz. “He didn’t command his fastball the way he probably will when he gets into a rhythm. It’s still March 22. With him, it comes down to his fastball command.”

The Sox collected nine hits, but seven of them came in the first two innings.

“We came out early and swung the bats pretty well,” Francona said. “Any time you hit the ball with power the other way (as Ortiz and Drew did), it’s a great approach.” Ortiz’s shot was his second in the Tokyo Dome, but no match for his first. On an exhibition tour with Major League All Stars in November of 2004, he hit one that was measured at 514 feet.

“Last time,” said Ortiz, “it was toward the end of the season. I’m glad I hit this one to start the season.”

smcadam@projo.com