BOSTON -- His record is unblemished at 8-0. His earned-run average is 2.40, fifth-best in the American League.

When Daisuke Matsuzaka pitches, though, frustration is everywhere because of his inconsistent command. Thursday was yet another example. Dice-K walked six, fanned seven and allowed six hits and three runs, lasting only 5 2/3 innings in a 118-pitch struggle.

He faced 29 batters, and against 13 of them he threw at least five pitches. Matsuzaka labored through 34 pitches in the first inning and needed 25 to get through the fifth. He had a 5-1 lead after three innings and he still was nibbling. He now has walked a league-leading 38 batters this season, though his strikeout total of 53 in his 60 innings is seventh-best in the A.L.

Yesterday, there may have been a built-in excuse/reason for Matsuzaka’s troubles. He was working with a new catcher. Instead of Jason Varitek, it was Kevin Cash behind the plate, catching him in a regular-season game for the first time.

"As a catcher, one thing you don’t want to do is break the pitcher’s rhythm. There were some times today when I don’t want to call it miscommunication, but we weren’t on the same page and I had to go (to the mound) to make sure I knew what he wanted to throw,” said Cash.

“We were trying to figure each other out. It was more my trying to figure him out. I thought he threw the ball well. You can’t argue with a win,” said Cash.

“Today with Cash catching we went over signs and pitches very briefly before the game, but I realized in hindsight that we could have probably discussed a few more things in depth,” Matsuzaka said.