SAN DIEGO (AP) – Dice-K was OK at Petco Park, again.

Daisuke Matsuzaka escaped a first-inning jam to outpitch Greg Maddux, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres in a matchup of two of baseball’s top teams Friday night.

The Red Sox have baseball’s best record, 47-25. The Padres came in with the NL’s best mark, but their third straight loss cost them first place in the tight West. San Diego (41-31) dropped a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat Tampa Bay 6-3.

While the Red Sox were visiting Petco Park for the first time, Matsuzaka had a pretty big win here on March 20, 2006, pitching Japan to a 10-6 victory over Cuba in the championship game of the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Matsuzaka was named the classic’s MVP after earning his third win.

Nine months later, the right-hander with a wide array of pitches became a $103 million rookie – the Red Sox bid $51.11 million to the Seibu Lions for the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka, then signed him to a $52 million, six-year contract.

On Friday night, he settled down after a shaky start in which he walked the first three batters but gave up just one run.

His 126th and final pitch was a 94 mph fastball that he blew past Marcus Giles, who went down swinging with runners on first and third to end the sixth.

Matsuzaka (9-5) allowed one run and five hits, struck out nine and walked five.

Maddux (6-4) lost to the Red Sox for the first time in six career decisions over eight starts against them. The 41-year-old also went six, allowing two runs and seven hits, with two strikeouts and two walks.

Maddux, a four-time NL Cy Young winner, is 339-207 in his career.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 17th save in 18 chances.

Matsuzaka couldn’t find his control early, walking the first three batters before retiring Mike Cameron. Giles scored on Michael Barrett’s single to left, the catcher’s first hit since coming over in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

Matsuzaka struck out Khalil Greene and got Russell Branyan to fly out to right to end the inning.

Maddux gave up four singles in the fourth inning – including three straight with one out – as the Red Sox took a 2-1 lead. Dustin Pedroia had a leadoff hit to right and Manny Ramirez singled up the middle with one out. Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek followed with RBI hits up the middle.

Boston’s hitting coach is Dave Magadan, who was fired by the Padres in mid-June last season when their team batting average dipped to an NL-worst .252

With runners on first and second and two outs in the fifth, Barrett hit a liner up the middle but second baseman Pedroia swung around to his right and made the catch.

Maddux had an embarrassing moment in the sixth when his right heel slipped on the dirt and he tumbled over, with his pitch sailing well over David Ortiz’s head. Maddux got up, smiled and retired Big Papi on a grounder to shortstop.

Notes: The Padres wore their 1982 uniforms in honor of Hall of Fame electee Tony Gwynn’s big league debut. … The crowd of 44,405 was the largest of the season at Petco and the third-largest since the downtown ballpark opened in 2004. … Red Sox starter Curt Schilling (sore right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday. The Red Sox recalled outfielder David Murphy from Triple-A Pawtucket. … Padres reliever Doug Brocail (strained left gluteus) went on the DL, retroactive to Thursday. LHP Royce Ring was recalled from Triple-A Portland.

AP-ES-06-23-07 0114EDT