Usually when a pitcher comes off
the DL, I fully expect him to struggle through his first couple of
outings. When a pitcher is coming off
the DL after not pitching for 3 months, I expect him to really struggle in his
first couple of starts. But somehow,
Clay Buchholz did the opposite.
In an impressive return to
action, the fragile right-hander tossed five shutout innings, giving the Sox a
2-0 victory over the Rays on Tuesday night.
Buchholz allowed just 3 hits and
a walk while striking out 6 as he outdueled the Rays ace pitcher. Since he’s been out for so long, Buchholz was
removed from the game after only 74 pitches.
The Sox have to be cautious with him right now and build up his arm
strength for the playoffs.
Clay improved to 10-0 on the year
and lowered his ERA to 1.61. He gave the
Red Sox fans a sense of excitement yesterday because he can be a real cog in
the engine down the stretch run and into October.
Craig Breslow worked 2 scoreless
frames in relief of Buchholz. He walked
2 but worked around both free passes. He’s
been Boston’s most under-rated reliever as he lowered his ERA to 2.01. Junichi Tazawa came on in the 8th
and after getting the first 2 batters out, including a strikeout, he gave up a
double to Yunel Escobar. John Farrell
wasting no time, brought in his super closer Koji Uehara for the 4 out save.
Koji did not disappoint as he
retired all 4 batters he faced, striking out 2 of them. It was his 19th save of the year
and he’s just been dominant as of late.
It was the 4th time he notched a 4-out save and he has
retired 31 straight batters. He lowered
is ERA to a ridiculous 1.10 on the year.
Of the 13 pitches Uehara threw, 12 of them were strikes. He’s just in a crazy zone right now.
Offensively, there was nothing to
write home about as David Price kept the Boston bats in check for most of the
night. The Sox only got 4 men into
scoring position and were 1 for 4 in those opportunities. They only left 3 men on base because Price
simply wasn’t letting people on base.
The only scoring in the entire
game came in the top of the 5th, when Mike Napoli led off the inning
with a double, his 35th of the year.
Jonny Gomes then singled up the middle to plate Napoli and advanced to 2nd
on Desmond Jennings bad throw to the plate.
Daniel Nava moved Gomes to 3rd on a great sacrifice bunt and
Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in Nava with a deep fly to center field. Middlebrooks would end the inning with a
strikeout but the damage was done, the Sox had a 2-0 advantage and would cruise
the rest of the way to the victory.
Napoli also added a walk and was
1 for 3 with a run on the night. Gomes
was 1 for 4 with a run and an RBI.
Dustin Pedroia had a hit and stole his 17th base of the
year. Daniel Nava had the only other hit
on the night. That was it on the night
as Price fanned 9 and was fantastic except for that 1 inning.
The win increased Boston’s lead
in the AL East to 8 and ½ games and the magic number for the Sox to clinch is
now down to 10. The Sox are 13-3 since
August 24th and have seemed to actually got hot in September instead
of their recent couple of years where they’ve been absolutely terrible.
They’ll go at it again tonight at
the Trop with Ryan Dempster (8-9, 4.79) taking the hill against Alex Cobb (8-3,
2.99). Dempster has been good in his
last 2 starts since the “rest” he took after he was suspended for 5 games. Cobb was roughed up a bit in his last start
but had 4 great starts before that after his stint on the DL after he was
drilled by a line drive to the head.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Clay Buchholz. After not pitching for 3 months, I didn’t
expect a 5-inning shut out with 6 strikeouts in his first start. The most impressive inning to me was the
bottom of the fifth when he retired the side in order after the Sox gave him
the lead.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Stephen Drew. Drew went 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts in the
win and looked overmatched against David Price.
Price will do that to you.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Salty’s 8 pitch at bat in the top
of the 5th that resulted in a sacrifice fly and the Sox 2nd
run of the game. He really showed poise
in that at-bat and got the Sox an extra insurance run that they ultimately
wouldn’t need.
NEXT
Wednesday, September 11th, in Tampa
Bay vs. the Rays.
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