Hideki Matsui slammed a three-run homer and drove in four runs to back the solid pitching of Ervin Santana as the visiting Los Angeles Angels ended a season-long drought against the Boston Red Sox with a 7-2 victory on Thursday night.

Santana (13-8) won his third straight start, limiting the Red Sox to two runs on four hits in seven-plus innings as the Angels avoided a three-game sweep and beat Boston for the first time in 10 meetings this season.

Torii Hunter had three hits and Alberto Callaspo added two RBIs to help the Angels snap a three-game losing streak.

Los Angeles did all of its damage in the sixth and seventh innings against Red Sox starter Josh Beckett (3-3), who was battered for the third consecutive outing.

Beckett carried a two-hit shutout into the sixth inning before the Angels erupted with four consecutive hits, capped by Matsui’s 16th homer into Boston’s bullpen for a 4-1 lead.

Anaheim tacked on three more runs in the seventh, taking advantage of four walks – three by reliever Manny Delcarmen – and an infield single to blow the game open.

David Ortiz hit a solo homer – his 27th – in the fourth inning for Boston.