On a night when Clay Buchholz admits he didn’t bring his best, the young starter allowed only one earned run on five hits, further solidifying his place in the Red Sox rotation, and earning the Red Sox yet another win over the Baltimore Orioles, 3-1.
Buchholz made a solid case for his dependability down the stretch, in a reasonably controlled six-inning start. His focus slipped in the second, as he delivered three very hittable change-ups to Orioles DH Luke Scott, the last one of which Scott gave to some lucky fan in right field. But Buchholz remained uncharacteristically composed, and pitched the rest of his innings without major incident.
Casey Kotchman, starting as a part of Mike Lowell’s geriatric rehabilitation schedule, and Jacoby Ellsbury both delivered big RBIs, as Jeremy Guthrie kept the lid on the Red Sox, at least a more reasonable seal than other Orioles pitchers could have mustered. But it was Jason Bay’s fourth inning blast that lifted the team, earning Canada’s finest his 34th homer of the season.
Tonight’s “I’m Such a Straight Up Hoss that Even When I’m Not Feeling It… I Make YOU Feel It” Award goes to both Clay Buchholz and Jason Bay. Clay told reporters after the game that, “it was a game where I felt like I didn’t have command of three of the four pitches that I was throwing,” said Buchholz. “I still managed to throw a couple of them for a strike just to keep them honest. Other than that, it was definitely a mentally tiring game for me.”
Jason Bay got himself to within one homer of his career high just before having to leave the game early because of “flu-like symptoms,” after his baby girl fell ill. Better to have a sick Jason Bay than no Jason Bay at all.
Next game: BOS @ BAL – Lester / Hernandez
