Brian Matusz says he's getting his confidence back. It showed again tonight. "I'm going out there and having a game plan, being able to attack the zone," he said after allowing one run and two hits, walking one and striking out nine over 6 1/3 innings. "Like I've said, I forgot all about last year. I look at that just as a fluke. For me, it's about being able to keep getting better each time out. I haven't forgotten what it feels like to lose, so these wins are special, to go out and do what I've been doing." Matusz has walked three batters over his last three starts for the Orioles, a drastic improvement in his command. "Just having confidence with all my pitches," he said. "Attacking the zone, letting guys put it in play. That's been the key. "I was pounding the zone, getting ahead and putting guys away today. I mixed it up really well. I had all four pitches going for me and defense was solid. "I was keeping the ball down. I had a great slider and curveball today and was able to work in and out with the fastball. So when you have all those things going, it makes for a good night." Matusz walked off the field to a rousing ovation. "I had chills going through my body," he said. "It's such a great feeling to see the fans on their feet like that. You know, it really means a lot to have the support of the fans behind us. It's a pretty special feeling.

"It's a great feeling. I've come a long way since last year when it was the opposite when people were on their feet booing. It's really special to be able to work as I have and be able to come back and get back to being my normal self, be able to see the support from the fans. There's no better feeling." Matusz also talked about Brian Roberts' upcoming rehab assignment and possible return. "Just Brian's presence alone in the lineup means so much," he said. "What he's done in his career, he's one of the best leadoff hitters in the game. I've been working out with Brian this whole year. We've been doing sprints and lifting together. I know how hard he's been working." Steve Tolleson went to work against Boston starter Felix Doubront in the second inning, belting his second major league home run. "When I hit it, I said if that doesn't go out, then I'm probably not going to hit one out," he said. "I approached that at-bat, there was a big hole on that right side and I was really just trying to put that ball in play through the hole and move the runner over, and he gave me a pitch and I just reacted to it." Adam Jones made sure to deliver a shaving cream pie to Tolleson's face after the game. "He got me, he got me," Tolleson said. "I told him, I said, 'It felt like a punch instead of shaving cream.' But that's a great feeling. It's me tonight. It will be somebody else tomorrow."