OAKLAND -- Given the fact that last night's game was played in the Bay Area, where the All-Star game will be staged on July 10 at the home of the San Francisco Giants, one member of the media asked Daisuke Matsuzaka how he would feel about being selected to play in the Midseason Classic.

Dice-K did not take the question lightly. And he offered an honest response, through his translator, Masa Hoshino.

''It would certainly be an honor to be chosen for the All-Star Game, a great honor to play in it. But looking at my own performance I don't think I am worthy of being on the team,'' said Matsuzaka.

Last night's loss dropped Dice-K's record to 7-4. After giving up two earned runs in seven innings last night, his earned-run average actually dipped a bit, from 4.83 to 4.63.

Making the save

Lenny DiNardo wasn't the only ex-Soxer to turn on his former teammates last night.

Left-hander Alan Embree was called to preserve the 2-0 lead in the ninth and he did so with ease, retiring all three batters he faced. Varitek was the final out, looking at called third strike.

It was a bit of redemption for Embree, Oakland's new closer because Huston Street and Justin Duchscherer are on the disabled list. One night earlier, Embree was unable to hold a 4-2 lead in the ninth, coughing up a pair of runs on two-out base hits, though the Athletics managed to win, 5-4, on Eric Chavez's homer in the 11th.

''I had a little bump in the road the other night, so it was good to have the opportunity to get right back out there,'' said Embree, who now is 5-for-6 in save chances.

Here and there

The Red Sox suffered their fourth shutout of the season . . . Boston grounded into four double plays, the most since the Sox also grounded into four double plays in Baltimore on April 7, 2006 . . . Several hitting streaks came to an end last night -- Dustin Pedroia's (at 14 games); Manny Ramirez's (7 games); Jason Varitek's (5 games), and Kevin Youkilis' streak on the road (11 games) . . . The 130 pitches thrown by Matsuzaka were a season high (he threw 124 against Detroit at home on May 14) and the most by a Red Sox pitcher since Curt Schilling threw 133 in Cleveland on April 25, 2006.