Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka delivers a pitch against the Orioles during the third inning of last night’s game.

AP / Nick Wass

BALTIMORE — Red Sox manager Terry Francona doesn’t like to talk about possible team MVPs.

With six weeks remaining in the regular season, Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia can make a case as to who has been more valuable to the club. But Francona and his players will leave that discussion for the fans, because the only thing the Red Sox are concerned about is winning.

Since arriving at Camden Yards, that’s what Boston has done the last two games, including a 7-2 victory last night. To say Youkilis and Pedroia had interesting nights is a huge understatement.

Youkilis went 3-for-5, including a two-run homer and an RBI single. The Gold Glove first baseman has been playing third base since Mike Lowell (oblique) went on the disabled list. But last night he played a total of three positions — sort of.

He started the game at third, then shifted to first when starter Sean Casey was removed in the seventh inning for defensive purposes. With Youkilis playing first, Jed Lowrie was inserted to play third, with Alex Cora at shortstop.

That infield configuration changed in the eighth inning when Pedroia was ejected for arguing a checked-swing call. So Jeff Bailey was inserted at first, Youkilis went back to third and Lowrie moved to second.

“Youk has been a huge player for us,” said Francona. “Even defensively, and (last night) he was all over the diamond because of his versatility. He’s been very productive at the plate, and we need him to be.”

Before he was ejected, Pedroia went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs scored.

It’s been the duo’s play all season that has proved crucial.

“He’s been great all year long,” said Pedroia. “It’s fun to watch, and hopefully he continues. He’s been the biggest part of our offense all season long and it’s great when he’s getting two or three hits a game and driving in runs and hitting home runs.”

While Youkilis and Pedroia certainly garner team MVP talk, catcher Jason Varitek may not because of his struggles at the plate. The captain handles a pitching staff as well as any catcher in the majors, but his lack of offensive has been an issue.

But he seems to have found his stroke in Baltimore.

Varitek hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning last night, and with his homer on Monday, he has hit one in consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 21-22 of last season. He also became the first catcher in club history to record nine 10-homer seasons.

“It’s been great,” said Pedroia of Varitek’s resurgence. “Hopefully, he can catch fire and keep it going. He’s swinging the bat real well. Everyone goes through a tough stretch during the season; his was just longer than a lot of people’s. He’ll be fine, and hopefully it’ll last the next 30 games.”

Varitek’s round-tripper last night gave Boston a 3-0 advantage before Matsuzaka allowed a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning.

“That was very encouraging,” said Francona of Varitek’s second consecutive good offensive performance.

Baltimore threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning when it loaded the bases, something starter Daisuke Matsuzaka has allowed all too often this season. But, like so many other times, he got out of it. The opposition is 0-for-14 against Dice-K with the bases loaded this season.

“Just put runners on first and second and let him start pitching,” said Francona. “It’s kind of a tightrope act sometimes, but he has the ability to make pitches.”

After that stop, the Red Sox added three runs in the top of the fifth thanks in part to Youkilis’ two-run homer. Varitek added an RBI double in the inning to give Boston a 6-2 lead.

Matsuzaka was finished after five innings, having allowed two runs on six hits with five walks and six strikeouts. He threw 105 pitches (60 strikes). With his victory, the Japanese import improved to 15-2 this season. In fact, he has won six times this season when he has allowed five walks in a game.

Boston pushed across a run in the top of the eighth for a 7-2 lead.

The Sox’ bullpen trio of Javier Lopez, Justin Masterson and Manny Delcarmen kept the Orioles at bay.

jmcdonal@projo.com