Friday Links: Buchholz stops Sox skid in Kansas City

Photo credit: Kelly O’Connor

After being swept at Fenway Park by the Baltimore Orioles, the Red Sox hit the road for the final time this season. Boston’s last road trip of the 2014 campaign took them to Kansas City, for a four game series with the first-place Royals. The Red Sox grabbed an early lead against Royals starter Liam Hendricks, after Will Middlebrooks doubled and later scored on a fielding error by first baseman, Eric Hosmer. In the bottom of the inning, Clay Buchholz retired the first two batters that he faced, but then allowed 3 straight hits which pushed across two runs for Kansas City. Down by a run, Boston wasted no time retaking the lead in the third, as Mike Napoli worked a bases loaded walk to tie the score, and Will Middlebrooks singled to gain a one run advantage. An inning later, the Red Sox added another run to their total after David Ortiz roped a single into center field to chase home Mookie Betts from second. While there was no shortage of baserunners against Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz, the right-hander manager to hold the Royals offense to a manageable 3 runs over 6.1 innings pitched. With a slim one run lead in the eighth inning, Red Sox newcommer Jamile Weeks collected his first two RBI’s in a Red Sox uniform. Boston’s new-look late inning relief combo of Junichi Tazawa and Edward Mujica tossed back-to-back scoreless frames, as Boston took the series opener by a final of 6-3.

• After being on the receiving end of a collision with Dustin Pedroia in late August, Brock Holt hasn’t been his normal self. After he passed preliminary concussion tests, the Red Sox didn’t believe that the super utility player had sustained any type of trauma, but Holt’s play told a different story. After his numbers took a nosedive, Holt was held out of the line-up due to concussion like symptoms. On Thursday, Boston sent Holt to a concussion specialist in Pittsburgh for evaluation. (Brock Holt experiencing concussion symptoms, leaves Red Sox to see specialist)

• With both Dustin Pedroia and Brock Holt on the shelf indefinitely, the Red Sox will use Mookie Betts at second base for the final 15 games of the season. Betts, a native second baseman, was originally supposed to use the remainder of the year to get acclimated with his new outfield role, but without Pedroia or Holt the Red Sox needed to adjust their plan. The 21-year old’s move to the infield should give Jackie Bradley another shot to show improvement, and also open a spot for Rusney Castillo’s highly anticipated debut. (Mookie Betts to play second base down the stretch as Brock Holt sent to concussion specialist)

• After trading away almost all of their rotation at the trade deadline this season, the Red Sox have used the second half of the season as tryouts for their crop of young arms. However, none of Boston’s youngsters have really capitalized on their opportunity to prove themselves worth of a rotation spot next season. Among the four starters that the team has received an extended look at, only Rubby De La Rosa has made a case for himself as a member of the 2015 team. As the starts and struggles mount for the rookies, Boston has become wary of a youngster-heavy rotation next season. (Sample size getting bigger for struggling young Red Sox starters)

• The offseason hasn’t even started yet, but the Red Sox pile of disposable funds already has ownership talking big game. In a radio appearance on Thursday, Red Sox chairman Tom Werner stated that the team is ready and willing to spend money on the free agent market in order to improve the club. Considering the 2015 free agent class is a fairly weak group, one would imagine that Werner was hinting at the idea of the team resigning Jon Lester. With pitching at the top of Boston’s shopping list, Lester, or right-hander James Shields, makes the most sense for Boston in free agency. (Red Sox chairman Tom Werner determined to improve the team via free agency)

• Nothing is more important to the Red Sox this offseason, than obtaining one or two top of the line starting pitchers. After trading away virtually all of their rotation this summer, Boston cannot rely on a rookie-dominated starting five if they want to succeed in 2015. Of course the idea of resigning Jon Lester is possible, but perhaps an even more likely scenario has Boston acquiring James Shields. Like Lester, Shields will be highly coveted on the free agent market, and the bidding for his services will be high, but Boston has money to spend. Their only decision to make is “how high is too high for the 33 year old?”. (James Shields would be great for the Red Sox, but…)

• Tweet of the day: Is there a sliding derby? ‘Cuz Yoenis would be back-to-back champ in that too.