Dustin Pedroia just wouldn’t give in. Facing the top pitcher in the AL, he kept fouling off pitch after pitch.

Pedroia fouled off nine pitches in a 13-pitch at-bat against previously unbeaten Jered Weaver before lining a go-ahead, two-run single that helped the Red Sox beat the Angels 9-5 last night in Boston.

“I faced him a lot in college and the first few years in the big leagues and it doesn’t get any better than him,” Pedroia said. “I haven’t won too many of those, but it was nice to drive in a couple and kind of get things going.”

Weaver (6-1) scratched Sunday due to a stomach virus, gave up three runs, six hits, struck out six and walked one over six innings. He failed to become the first pitcher since 1891 to go 7-0 by May 2 or sooner. Sadie McMahon of the Baltimore Orioles from the American Association was the last to open 7-0 by the second day of May.

Weaver, who entered the game with an 0.99 ERA, thought he could have retired him a few times.

“That’s what he does,” Weaver said. “He wasn’t an MVP a couple of years ago for no reason. I made some good pitches. It was a 3-2 count. Some good sliders and good changeups. He just won the battle this time. Sometimes you lose them.”

White Sox 6, Orioles 2

In Chicago, Paul Konerko homered twice as the White Sox snapped a five-game slide.

A’s 5, Rangers 4 (10)

In Oakland, Hideki Matsui hit the first pitch of the 10th inning from Darren Oliver into the right-field seats to lift the Athletics. Texas has lost six of eight and 12 of 19 following a 9-1 start.

Dodgers 5, Cubs 2

In Los Angeles, Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to 28 games with an infield single that capped a three-run fifth.

Clayton Kershaw (3-3) pitched seven innings, allowing two runs and eight hits, including Alfonso Soriano’s major league-leading 11th homer.

Nationals 2, Giants 0

In D.C., Tom Gorzelanny allowed only three hits in eight sharp innings and Michael Morse and Jerry Hairston Jr. drove in runs for the Nats.

Marlins 6, Cardinals 5

In St. Louis, Mike Stanton hit a tying home run in the fifth inning and tripled and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth.

Braves 6, Brewers 2

In Atlanta, Alex Gonzalez hit a three-run double to give Atlanta the lead and the Braves beat Yovani Gallardo.

Pirates 4, Padres 3

In San Diego, Garrett Jones and Chris Snyder each hit a two-run homer in the first inning to back James McDonald.