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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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BOSTON STRONG - April 14, 2013 ... Clay Buchholz nearly made history again. The 28-year-old carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning of the Red Sox's 5-0 win over the Rays on Sunday, coming six outs short of joining a list of 27 pitchers who have thrown multiple no-hitters in their career. Buchholz weaved his way through the struggling Rays lineup, which entered Sunday with fewer hits this season (70) than any other team in the American League. He picked his corners, perhaps nibbling a little too much at times as he walked four batters in the outing, but he wouldn't allow hard contact. The first five innings went by like a swift breeze. Buchholz needed just 68 pitches, as nine of the first 15 batters were retired via the strikeout. Saltalamacchia was far more nervous. As the game progressed, innings felt longer to Buchholz. He was at 90 pitches after seven and returned for the eighth to face Kelly Johnson, who Buchholz and Saltalamacchia had planned on pitching differently than anyone else in the Rays' lineup. Johnson's bat shattered on contact, and the ball fell into shallow right field as the 35,198 in attendance at Fenway Park gave Buchholz a standing ovation. Had Buchholz gotten through the eighth without allowing a hit, it would've left Farrell in a tough spot with his starter's pitch count. Joining former Red Sox pitcher Justin Masterson as the only other Major Leaguer at 3-0, Buchholz hurled eight shutout innings, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out 11, a career high. He threw 109 pitches, 69 for strikes. Buchholz has come a long way since Sept. 1, 2007, when he was still a clean-shaven rookie. At 23 and making just his second career Major League appearance, his career was full of promise then. The Red Sox took the pressure off Buchholz early when Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia connected on three consecutive singles, and Napoli launched a shot that fell about a foot away from the 420-sign in deep center field, resulting in a two-run double. The Red Sox threw embattled closer Joel Hanrahan a life preserver Sunday, shutting him down for a few days to deal with a sore right hamstring. The injury, Hanrahan said, occurred April 3 in New York when he picked up a save against the Yankees. Dustin Pedroia (3 for 4 with a double) has reached safely in all 11 games this season, and 21 straight dating to last season. Stephen Drew is 1 for 13 since coming off the disabled list. He was credited with an RBI Sunday, his first with the Red Sox. Jackie Bradley Jr. was back in the lineup and went 0 for 3. He is hitless in his last 17 at-bats with eight strikeouts and is down to .107. Daniel Nava has reached safely in 18 consecutive starts dating to Sept. 21. |
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