GAME 27– 5/1/2013 – in Toronto vs. the Blue Jays

RESULT – WIN 10-1

The dominant Clay Buchholz keeps rolling.  Is there anyone pitching any better than Clay Buchholz is right now?  Buchholz improved to 6-0 on the season by throwing seven scoreless innings, letting up only 2 hits on the night.  Mike Napoli absolutely crushed two of the Red Sox five home runs in 10-1 rout of the Blue Jays.

The 28 year old right hander hasn’t been beaten so far on the year and he’s simply dominating the opposition.  He’s gone seven-plus innings in all of his six starts and has also struck out at least 6, hitting double digits twice in five of them.  Buchholz hasn’t allowed more than 2 runs in any outing and has struck out 47 against only 16 walks.

All of his outings have been quality starts and his 44 and 2/3 innings are tops in baseball.  His 1.01 ERA is also tops in the American League.  He continued his impressive track record against the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.  In his career, Buchholz is 7-2 with a 1.49 ERA in Toronto which is the best among pitchers to have pitched there with at least 55 innings.  He has stated that he likes the way the mound stays together there and it’s his favorite park to pitch in.

At one point in the game, Buchholz retired 10 in a row.  He allowed a third inning single to Munenori Kawaski then didn’t allow a hit again until the eighth when Melky Cabrera singled off of him then was promptly thrown out trying to advance to second.  Clay’s final line was 7 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 3 walks and 8 strikeouts.  He threw 101 pitches on the night.

Clay didn’t need much run support but the Sox were able to get him some anyway.  Most of the help came in the form of the long ball which started when Stephen Drew hit his first home run in a Red Sox uniform in the second.  Then in the fourth Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava hit back to back bombs to go up 4-0.  The back-to-back jacks were the fourth time the Red Sox have done that in the season and Nava has been apart of each time.

Mike Napoli wasn’t done however and in the seventh absolutely crushed a ball to center-field for his second home run of the night.  The ball reached the luxury boxes in center field which I’ve never seen anyone reach.  It was Mike’s 11^th multi-home run game on his career and the fifth and sixth of the season.  He leads the league with 21 extra base hits and 31 RBI.

I think the Red Sox should consider making the Rogers Centre Fenway North as they have slugged 16 home runs in only five games.  In comparison, at home in Fenway Park, the Sox have only hit 14 home runs in 16 games.

Mike Carp came on in the night to pinch-hit and homered continuing his hot hitting.  It’s getting harder and harder to keep Carp out of the lineup.  Big Papi extended his hit streak to 22 games which is a career high.

In total, the Sox had 15 hits, 8 were for extra bases.  Will Middlebrooks went 2 for 4; Stephen Drew had 3 hits and 2 RBI.  Every Sox hitter had at least one hit except for Jonny Gomes but he did reach base twice with 2 walks.

Mark Buehrle who came over from Miami in the mega-trade between the Marlins and Blue Jays hasn’t adjusted well to the American League East.  He was roughed up last night for 7 hits, 5 runs in 6 and 2/3 innings.  His season ERA is up to 6.43 and he just doesn’t seem to be fooling any hitters right now.  Offensively, the Blue Jays were abysmal mustering only 4 hits on the night.  Jose Bautista and Adam Lind each walked twice on the night and Brett Lawrie hit a triple to drive in their only run.

The Sox will go for the series win tonight as Ryan Dempster (1-2, 3.30 ERA) takes the mound opposite J.A. Happ (2-1, 3.86 ERA).  Happ has been the Jays best pitcher so far and their hoping to salvage the series and turn their season around.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP

I’m giving this to both Mike Napoli for his 2 mamo-bombs and Clay Buchholz for his continued dominance.  Mike Napoli had 3 hits, drove in 4 and even walked once on the night.  Clay went 7 strong yet again striking out 8 giving up no runs.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP

Alex Wilson.  Alex has looked good so far this year and his season ERA is 1.35 but last night he blew the shutout.  He pitched only 2/3 of an inning but gave up 2 hits and allowed the only run the Blue Jays would score.  He walked one and did strike out 2 batters but threw 27 pitches to the 5 batters he faced.  He didn’t look comfortable out there last night.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Mike Napoli’s 2^nd home run of the night which was a monster shot to the luxury boxes in center field.  Not only was it an absolute moon shot it also put the Sox up 8-0 and in cruise control.

NEXT

Today, May 2nd in Toronto vs. the Blue Jays.