Kuzul

Just when you thought there was at least one reason to watch the Red Sox for the remainder of the 2010 season, Clay Buchholz reminded Sox fans that the final Sunday can’t come soon enough.

Buchholz hardly had enough time to realize how bad his start was Friday night against the Oakland Athletics, only lasting into the second inning. After allowing five earned runs on four walks and five hits, Francona had seen enough and handed the ball over to Dustin Richardson.

Dustin Richardson, Michael Bowden, Robert Coello, and Robert Manuel managed to stop the bleeding and shut out the Athletics through the next seven innings. However the Red Sox offense was too busy being rocked by Trevor Cahill (now 16-6 on the season) to be bothered with supplying any runs.

Whomever was on duty to hide all calendars from Buchholz this month fell asleep at the switch. Clay had forced himself into the discussion for the Cy Young Award by pitching out of his skull in August (4-0, 1.03 ERA, .195 BAA). Buchholz had even pitched well in his first start of September. Despite only lasting five innings against the Chicago White Sox, Clay only allowed two earned runs.

(Originally posted on 5 Yard Face Mask)

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The year 2010 has been the year of the pitcher in Major League Baseball. It is filled with no-hitters and perfect games, from very different pitchers all throughout the league. 

Last year, Zack Greinke surprised us all by having a 3 under ERA, and earning 15 wins even with low run support. 

This year, only two pitching candidates are veterans, and one is only 24 years old (guess who it is)!

This has certainly been a surprising and exciting season thus far, and this discussion gives us another reason to love baseball.

Begin Slideshow

The Boston Red Sox have been successful despite a mountain of injuries and a sub-par pitching staff. Today, in their series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays, they relied on one of their replacements and their only consistent pitcher, riding the momentum train started on Saturday by Jed Lowrie’s game winner.

On paper, the team has one of the better pitching rotations in baseball. But currently they only have one efficient pitcher, Clay Buchholz, whom they have been close to trading multiple times over the years.

And, with his play this season exemplified in his start against Toronto, he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. He entered with the best earned run average in the American League, and he only lowered it with another brilliant outing.

The 26-year-old right-hander worked out of a first and third, one-out jam in the opening inning, struck out the side in the second, then pitched around a one-out walk in the third to strike out two more.

He allowed some hits, issued a few walks, but was as crisp as he has been all year long, and especially all month long. He hadn’t allowed a run in his previous two starts, blanking the Angels over seven innings and these same Blue Jays over eight. Total in the month of August, he had relinquished just four earned runs in 30 1/3 innings.

That earned run total remained the same following Sunday’s performance, as Toronto was once again blanked by Buchholz, this time over six sparkling innings in which seven Jays were struck out.

Buchholz wasn’t given any support in the first four innings, as Shaun Marcum matched him zero for zero. Buchholz ran into some trouble over the course of his outing, but he wouldn’t allow that big hit. Marcum, however, eventually succumbed to the opposition.

Buchholz had just thrown his 22nd consecutive inning without an earned run when David Ortiz strode to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning to face Marcum. Ortiz took a changeup for a strike then turned on a curve that hung in the zone, stinging it into the left-center gap. Center fielder Vernon Wells was shaded over to right-field, playing Ortiz to pull, and could not cover enough ground to snag Ortiz’s liner, which resulted in a triple.

Adrian Beltre, Boston’s top RBI-man and one of the better overall hitters in the American League this year, wasted no time in scoring the game’s first run, lacing a double down the left-field line to plate Ortiz.

Marcum collected himself to retire Mike Lowell, who will retire after the season, and the aforementioned Lowrie, but then had to face Hall.

Hall, 30, played his first seven-plus seasons in Milwaukee, becoming a very well-liked player there. He was versatile, with the ability to play all three outfield positions as well second base, third base, and shortstop. His best season average-wise came in 2005, when he hit .291 with a .342 on-base percentage, and his best all-around season was in 2006, when he socked 35 homers, drove in 85 runs, and scored 101 runs.

From there, though, it was all downhill. He lost his ability to hit and increased his ability to strike out, and his struggles to carry a batting average above .250 and an on-base percentage above .300 led him to Seattle, where he mustered only 24 hits in 104 at-bats.

Still, despite a poor bat, his relative youth, great character, and versatility found him a home in Boston on a one-year contract. His average is nothing to jump up and down about, but his overall statistics are very satisfactory.

He entered the game with 15 homers, a solid amount for someone with his recent history, and especially so for a utilityman. And he ended with 16, a majestic drive that flew over the Green Monster in left and completely out of Fenway Park. A two-run homer, giving Buchholz and the bullpen all the support they needed.

Two insurance runs were scored in the eighth in run-scoring singles by Victor Martinez and Ortiz, but it was the six shutout innings tossed by Buchholz—which resulted in a 14th victory and lowered his ERA to 2.26—and Hall’s timely longball that propelled Boston to their fourth victory in their last six games.

Buchholz has been stellar all year, as have the replacements, including Hall, who was the latest unsung hero for a team remarkably still in the playoff hunt.

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Today’s 2-1 win over the Yankees may have saved the Red Sox’ season.  Traveling to New York to play a four game set with the Bronx Bombers, it looked very bleak for the Sox.  The Yankees were ready to send a knockout blow and send the Red Sox ten games back with a sweep.  But the Sox wouldn’t have it.

Game one was a 6-3 victory for the Red Sox, where Francisco Cervelli dropped a routine pop-up and allowed the Sox to rally for three runs in the second, leading up to Ryan Kalish’s first ever home run, a two run bomb to secure the lead for the Sox.

Game two wasn’t as kind to the Red Sox, as John Lackey could not protect a one run lead, and CC Sabathia hurled eight innings, giving up only two runs and striking out four.

Game three had both teams looking to take control of the series.  Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN began with the Yankees grabbing a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.  In the fifth, Bill Hall cut the lead in half with a solo shot off of Dustin Moseley.  Then, in the bottom of the fifth, Josh Beckett gave up five earned runs to make it 7-1 Yanks.  The Sox scored once more, but that wasn’t nearly enough as the Yankees won 7-2.

Game four.  The Red Sox could fall behind eight games in the East with a loss or get back to six games with a win.  This was possibly the Red Sox’ biggest game all year, especially with the Rays losing five straight.  They scored two in the top of the second, and that was all they needed.  Jon Lester had a great outing, throwing 6.1 innings with no runs allowed.  In the seventh, Daniel Bard escaped a bases loaded jam with no outs, giving up nothing.  Mark Texiera would hit out a solo shot in the eighth to cut the lead, but the Yanks would get no more, as Papelbon put on a clutch performance and got the save.

The Red Sox escaped the series very much still in the AL East and Wild Card races.  They will only continue to get better as players return from injury, and Jacoby Ellsbury’s four stolen bases in the game means he’s getting back on track and should be at 100 percent soon.  

The Red Sox play the Yankees and Rays six times each, one series home and away against both teams.  The Red Sox aren’t out of this race just yet.  Mark your calenders for when the Yankees travel to Fenway from October 1-3 to close out each clubs’ regular season. There could be playoff spots on the line.

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The Boston Red Sox disabled list is long, but even crippled, this is a darn good ball club.

Winning the first game against the Yankees proves the Red Sox are still in the mix in the AL East.

Boston’s starting rotation is now all active and healthy, and they are ridiculously good.

Red Sox ace Josh Beckett’s being back is huge because his passion and fiery attitude demand a lot of respect. Clearly, Beckett is the leader of the staff and his absence was apparent.

In Friday night’s loss, the Yankees should have taken advantage of Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz.

It looked that way after Mark Teixeira’s blast in the first-inning, scoring Derek Jeter, but that was the extent of it. Jeter was on base all night, as the other Yankees run came from Alex Rodriquez driving in the Captain in the fifth.

Buchholz set this game’s tone, as he successfully pounded the strike zone. He didn’t let pitches get up too high after being reminded why by Tex. Buchholz allowed nine hits in total, while the Red Sox were fielding error-free behind their starter.

Considering the Red Sox’s record amount of injuries, their record of 63-47 is astonishing.

Recalling all the doubt at the start of the 2010 season in the Red Sox as a team is something no one will question again. GM Theo Epstein is so confident in the teams he puts on the field because the Red Sox are always atop the top teams list.

I can say or admit that imagining a healthy Red Sox team scares the hell out of me. Epstein is a certified GM because the initial roster was superb, but players are not super men.

The dropped ball error by Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli did allow three unearned runs to score. The Red Sox took advantage of the Yankees’ mistakes and capitalized for the win.

Luckily, the Yankees still remain in first place, thanks to the Tampa Bay Rays losing for the second night against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Rays have now lost three in a row.

As for the Yankees, just watch this game again and observe our Captain in the bottom of the ninth, with two outs. Jeter had a 14-pitch at-bat and the fight in him should be inspiration enough.

It just proves that the outcome for the next three games will make a serious impact on both ball clubs.

Both teams know it and both will fight to win.

READ MORE AT…..

LADY LOVES PINSTRIPES.

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With #600 now in the past, the New York Yankees are ready to take on their rivals, the Boston Red Sox.

Boston has been hit hard with the unfortunate injury bug. Making the six and a half games the Red Sox need to catch the first place Yankees, who are tied with Tampa Bay Rays, not completely out of reach.

This puts a lot of pressure on Boston, as the importance of winning in the Bronx is pretty much a make or break situation.

The Yankees can’t afford to lose the series either because the Rays are playing great baseball right now.

It is no secret that the Yankees have lost two series in a row and to say that Alex Rodriguez’s 600 mark turned the team around has yet to be proven.

The Red Sox most recent DL member is first baseman Kevin Youkilis who is one of the best hitters in baseball and a Yankees killer. Youkilis is a significant loss and his absence will be noticed by both ball-clubs.

The Red Sox have their pitchers all back now and all healthy, so the Yankees have to counter at the plate.

Since pitching always dictates, let’s look at the four match-ups, over two posts:

NYY: JAVIER VAZQUEZ vs. BOS: CLAY BUCHHOLZ

Vazquez has gone from abominable to reliable in the Yankees rotation. Vazquez hasn’t lost since June 30^th, and in his last 10 starts he has a 3.50 ERA, with 46 strikeouts. Vazquez’s career against Boston posts a 4.21 ERA, with 10.0 K/9 ratio, a total of 56 strikeouts and over 66 innings pitched. JD Drew and David Ortiz could cause Vazquez the most problems.

Buchholz has been strong since spending about a month on the DL, after injuring his right hamstring running the base-pads during inter-league play. Buchholz is 11-5, with a 2.59 ERA and in his last outing he pitched eight solid innings. Over his last 10 starts the youngster has gone 6-2, with a 2.05 ERA, struck-out 43 batters and just over 61 innings pitched. Yankees hitters have .298 batting average vs. Buchholz, who has a 6.53 ERA against New York. In 57 at-bats, Buchholz has only stuck-out eight Yankees.

PREDICTION:

Both pitchers need to have solid outings, but the Yankee hitters look to score more runs. It will be a no-decision; Yankees win 6-2.

NYY: CC SABATHIA vs. BOS: JOHN LACKEY

Yankee’s ace CC Sabathia has been shaky lately, but he is too competitive to lose another game. Sabathia will truly be tested facing the Red Sox line-up. The absence of Youkilis and his .409 batting average vs. Sabathia should provide some relief, but Sabathia needs to bring his A-game regardless. In 2010, he has made three starts against the Red Sox, pitching 17 innings total, posting a 4.76 ERA, with 13 strikeouts. Sabathia has lost his last two starts, the latest against the Rays and it was not his fault considering the odd line-up Skipper Joe Girardi had on the field.

Lackey is a very familiar face in Yankees Universe, but his last time in the Bronx was the 2009 ALCS when he was still an Los Angeles Angel. Lackey’s time as a Red Sox this season has fared mediocre, as he posts a 10-6 record, with 4.48 ERA, allowing 70 earned runs, and a messily 88 strikeouts. In his last putting he only pitched 5 innings, giving up nine hits and six runs scored. In 2010, 87.5% of opponents have made contact against Lackey and he has digressed since his days on the Angels.

PREDICTION:

Unless Lackey has some flashback that inspires his arm, this is Sabathia’s game to lose. Yankees win 9-2.

READ MORE AT………LADY LOVES PINSTRIPES .

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The fans may not have given the Red Sox much love when casting their ballots for the all-star game, but opposing players and managers- as well as Major League Baseball itself- certainly did as six Red Sox were chosen to play in the Mid-Summer Classic next week in Los Angeles.

And now Sox fans can help to make certain that another player gets to go along too, as a seventh player (1B Kevin Youkilis) is one of five non-selectees nominated in the MLB.com Final Vote.

The American League starting squad will consist of two players each from the Minnesota Twins, NY Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers, as well as one Seattle Mariner… and in spite of the fact no Red Sox player was selected to start the game, The Olde Towne Team tied the Yankees for the most players to be selected for the AL squad, with six.

Boston players so honored were C Victor Martinez (4th selection), 2B Dustin Pedroia (3rd), 3B Adrian Beltre (1st), DH David Ortiz (6th), RHP Clay Buchholz (1st) and LHP Jon Lester (1st).

Unfortunately, Martinez and Pedroia are injured and won’t be able to participate in the ballgame. They will be replaced by Texas 2B Ian Kinsler and Toronto C John Buck, respectively.

And we will learn in the next 24 hours if Clay Buchholz will share their fate, as unconfirmed reports indicate he will likely join his teammates on the disabled list sometime this week.

Red Sox fans also have the opportunity to send Youkilis to the game- which would give the Red Sox an MLB-high seven all-stars!

He is one of the five players eligible to be selected to the team by fan balloting, along with 1B Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox, OF Nick Swisher of the NY Yankees, OF Delmon Young of the Minnesota Twins and 3B Michael Young of the Texas Rangers.

Voting can be done exclusively at MLB.com… click here to vote for YOUK!

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Here are your 2010 all-stars… starters are in bold-faced type:

American League:

C: Joe Mauer, MIN (Victor Martinez, BOS*; John Buck, TOR)

1B: Justin Morneau, MIN (Miguel Cabrera, DET)

2B: Robinson Cano, NYY (Dustin Pedroia, BOS*; Ian Kinsler, TEX; Ty Wiggington, BAL)

3B: Evan Longoria, TB (Adrian Beltre, BOS; Alex Rodriguez, NYY)

SS: Derek Jeter, NYY (Elvis Andrus, TEX)

OF: Carl Crawford, TB; Josh Hamilton, TEX; Ichiro Suzuki, SEA (Jose Bautista, TOR; Torii Hunter, LAA; Vernon Wells, TOR)

DH: Vladimir Guerrero, TEX (David Ortiz, BOS)

SP: Clay Buchholz, BOS; Trevor Cahill, OAK; Fausto Carmona, CLE; Phil Hughes, NYY; Cliff Lee, SEA; Jon Lester, BOS; David Price, TB; and C C Sabathia, NYY

RP: Neftali Feliz, TEX; Mariano Rivera, NYY; Joakim Soria, KC; Matt Thornton, CWS; and Jose Valverde, DET

National League:

C: Yadier Molina, ST L (Brian McCann, ATL)

1B: Albert Pujols, ST L (Adrian Gonzalez, SD; Ryan Howard, PHI)

2B: Chase Utley, PHI* (Brandon Phillips, CIN; Martin Prado, ATL)

3B: David Wright, NYM (Omar Infante, ATL; Scott Rolen, CIN)

SS: Hanley Ramirez, FLA (Troy Tulowitzki, COL*; Jose Reyes, NYM)

OF: Ryan Braun, MIL; Andre Ethier, LAD; Jason Heyward, ATL (Michael Bourn, HOU; Marlon Byrd, CC; Corey Hart, MIL; Matt Holliday, ST L; and Chris Young, AZ)

SP: Chris Carpenter, ST L; Yovani Gallardo, MIL; Roy Halladay, PHI; Tim Hudson, ATL; Ubaldo Jimenez, COL: Josh Johnson, FLA; Tim Lincecum, SFG; Evan Meek, PIT; and Adam Wainright, ST L

RP: Jonathan Broxton, LAD; Matt Capps, WAS; Arthur Rhodes, CIN; and Brian Wilson, SFG

NL nominees for fans Final Vote: RHP Heath Bell, SD; OF Carlos Gonzalez, COL; 1B Joey Votto, CIN; LHP Billy Wagner, ATL; 3B Ryan Zimmerman, WAS.

* unable to participate due to injury

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And with that, there is already much discussion about the snubs from each team.

In the American League, the biggest snub was Youkilis- who has been the best player on the Red Sox thus far in 2010.

But beyond Youk, I have to admit I was surprised that LAA RHP Jered Weaver wasn’t named to the team- since he leads the league in strikeouts and the game is being played on his home field.

Also, what about Seattle righty Felix Hernandez- who is arguably one of the three or four best pitchers in the league even though his record doesn’t reflect his ability (he does, after all, play for the woeful Mariners)? Or maybe DET OF Magglio Ordinez or CWS OF Alex Rios, who finally appears to have harnessed his immense potential?

NOTE: NYY lefty C.C. Sabathia is scheduled to pitch on Sunday and, by rule, he won’t be permitted to take a spot on the AL’s active roster. While I suspect Joe Torre would prefer to name his own pitcher, Andy Pettitte (who has 10 wins) to replace Sabathia, it seems likely the league will say the Yankees already have enough players on the roster, and that either Weaver or Hernanadez will be tabbed to replace the big lefty on the active roster.

The betting here is Youkilis wins the Final Vote, and Weaver is chosen to replace Sabathia because of the fact the game is being played in Anaheim.

In the National League, Bell, Gonzalez and Votto are on the Final Vote ballot. In addition I would add a couple of other snubs – C Miguel Olivo of the Colorado Rockies (.308 / 11 / 39) or RHP Mike Pelfrey of the NY Mets (10-2, 2.93).

It says here that Votto will win the Final Vote, although I will vote for Bell, who leads all of baseball in saves.

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It really is crazy.

In a division that features a 20 game winner (CC Sabathia), a Cy Young winner (Josh Beckett), and the 2008 ALCS MVP (Matt Garza), it’s the kids who have been making the most noise.

Where would the New York Yankees be this year without Phil Hughes?

Where would the Boston Red Sox be without Clay Buchholz?

Where would the Tampa Bay Rays be without David Price?

These three pitchers have stepped up when their teams needed them the most—and not just that.

They’ve also been really, really, really good.

Their success is not surprising. There is a reason why Boston and New York never traded Hughes or Buchholz. There is a reason why Tampa drafted Price first overall in the 2007 draft.

But they have definitely had their bumps along the way. Hughes bounced around as he tried to learn how to pitch under the Bronx microscope.

Bucholz also needed time to develop as he bounced between AAA and the majors. After setting the world on fire in the 2008 playoffs, Price’s star dimmed in his first full season in the majors.

But look at them now.

These three pitchers have shown it takes time and patience to develop young pitching.

But the moves can pay massive dividends if you put in the hard work.

Here’s a closer look at the three new (f)aces their teams could not live without.

Begin Slideshow

Fantasy Baseball’s Pitching Line of the Week:

Stephen Strasburg (SP-WAS)  7 IP, 4H, 2R, 0 BB, 14 K, W

The long awaited Major League debut of Stephen Strasburg is officially over. The dust has settled, but some fans have yet to pick their chins off of the ground from the amazement that was a dominating fourteen strikeout performance.

Strasburg schooled the Pirates with remote like control of his blazing fastball, changeup and a curveball that had the Bucs’ knees bucklin’. What may have been more impressive was the velocity on his pitches as he progressed into the later innings, it never changed.

The only runs Stephen surrendered came on a two-run home run by Delwyn Young in the top of the fourth inning for Pittsburgh that also scored Neil Walker. Strasburg was awarded the National League Player of the Week award in his first full week in the Major Leagues.

He started two games, went 2-0, pitched 12.1 innings while posting a 2.19 ERA and striking out 22 batters. Good luck trying to acquire this guy in most fantasy baseball formats. He is currently owned in 92% of Y! Leagues. I wonder what the fools in the other 8% of Y! leagues are waiting for?

The “Double Dipper ” is a starting pitcher who will get two starts in the same week. Each Sunday we will preview top three options in each league and highlight streaming options for players owned in less than 50% of Y! leagues.

Top 3 NL Double Dippers:

Roy Halladay/PHI (@NYY, vs. MIN): He starts regardless of match-ups.
Josh Johnson/FLA (vs. TEX, vs. TB): 1 ER allowed in last five starts. Insanity.
Adam Wainwright/STL (@SEA, @OAK): 8.71 K/9, Ludicrous Ratios.

Top 3 AL Double Dippers:

David Price/TB (@ATL, @FLA): 1 ER in last two Starts. LOB% 81.3
Clay Bucholz/BOS (vs. ARI, vs. LAD): two Starts @Home. 3 ER in last three. Breakout.
CJ Wilson/TEX (@FLA, @HOU): 2-0 in last two. .226 BAA.

Warning: Streaming can be lethal. The following are owned in less than 50% of Y! leagues.

Carl Pavano/MIN (@NYM, vs. SEA): Solid ERA & WHIP. 3.69 K:BB
Justin Masterson/CLE (vs. NYM, @PIT): 2-0 in last three including two-hitting the BoSox.
Freddy Garcia/CWS (vs. HOU, vs. TOR): 3-0 in last three. 15:4 K:BB in that span. 

Don’t Touch ‘Em

Brad Lincoln, Ian Snell, Kyle Davies, John Lannan 

Week 10 One Start Stars Owned in 50% or Less

Clayton Richard /SD 48% Y! – Saturday vs. BAL (Millwood): 4-1 w/2.29 ERA over last nine  
Fausto Carmona /CLE 26% Y! – Friday @PIT (Maholm): Tossed a CG, 3 H, 1 ER Gem last turn.

Who will be the best Two-Start Pitcher owned in 50% or less in week 11?
Will Stephen Strasburg continue to live up to the hype?
Leave a comment, or reply to us on Twitter
Twitter.com/thefantasyfix

Make sure to check out our weekly Two-Start Pitchers and Must or Bust Analysis on www.thefantasyfix.com

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Caption: Clay Buchholz was outstanding once again, shutting down Kansas City over seven innings tonight in the Red Sox 1-0 win at Fenway Park.

One year ago, in the wake of Clay Buchholz’s play-me-or-trade-me remark on NESN, many of the callers to local sports-radio talk shows were calling for the Sox to ship the young right-hander out of town.

When I interviewed Buccholz in Pawtucket a few days later, he said his remarks were misunderstood. He said he was ready to play (and contribute) at the major league level, and that he just was trying to tell the Red Sox that he was ready to become a factor in the American League East.

But the Sox front office didn’t think he was ready. While he no longer had the deer-in-the-headlights look with runners on base, he was still somewhat timid on the mound at the big league level. He was still prone to nibbling and falling behind in the count. As it was back in 2007 when I first interviewed Buchholz, the Red Sox wanted him to get innings under his belt, repeat his delivery, refine his control and garner confidence.

Even during spring training earlier this year, there were LOTS of talk-show callers declaring that the Red Sox NEEDED to ship him to San Diego in exchange for 1B Adrian Gonzalez.

Well, I wonder what those folks are thinking right about now.

As the 2010 season approaches the one-third pole, Buchholz has EASILY been the club’s best pitcher. He’s been everything that his most ardent supporters—myself included—believed he would become…and he is well on his way to being a first-time all-star this summer.

It was interesting to hear Peter Gammons talk about the Nederland, TX, native during the NESN postgame report. He remarked that Buchholz is completely different in the Red Sox clubhouse prior to his starts. Whereas in the past he was a bundle of nerves, tonight he sat in front of his locker playing a guitar—trying to learn a few new chords.

He did his thing once again this evening. He won his seventh game, allowing four hits (three singles and a double that ticked off the glove of 3B Adrian Beltre) over seven shutout innings, leading his ballclub to a 1-0 win over Zack Greinke and the Kansas City Royals.

If you are looking for something to complain about, here it is: he walked four batters (he also struck out four).

Maybe Clay was playing The Beatles, “With A Little Help From My Friends”, which would have been an appropriate selection in consideration of the fact that his teammates mustered only five hits and one run to support his efforts in tonight’s game. THAT certainly can be defined as A LITTLE HELP.

But THAT was all he ended up needing…

Well, THAT and a couple of scoreless innings of relief from Daniel Bard (who hit 100 mph on the radar gun) and Jonathan Papelbon (who threw a couple of outstanding split-fingered pitches in his outing). Bard surrendered a leadoff double to Jason Kendall in the eighth inning, but after a sacrifice bunt he escaped unharmed with a strikeout and ground out (a hard-hit ball which, thankfully, was hit within the reach of 2B Dustin Pedroia).

The lone run of the game came in the second inning as Adrian Beltre led off with a single and J D Drew drove a double off the Green Monster in left-center field…Mike Lowell then knocked Beltre home with a ground ball to second base.

That was all of the scoring in the ballgame…and that suited Buchholz and his teammates just fine.

The Sox loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth inning on a double by David Ortiz, an intentional walk to Victor Martinez and walk to Beltre…but, incredibly, Drew bounced THE FIRST PITCH to first base to end the inning (hey, JD, when the reigning Cy Young Award winner is struggling to find the plate, maybe you should make him throw a strike, huh?).

*

The win snapped the Red Sox two-game losing streak.

*

Buchholz is 3-0, with a 1.32 ERA, in his last three outings.

*

Terry Francona rested Kevin Youkilis and gave Mike Lowell a start at first base, in part due to Lowell’s career numbers against Greinke (4-for-7).

*

After watching RHP Josh Beckett throw a side-session yesterday, Francona said the team has decided to “slow down” the right-hander’s rehab. According to Tito, Beckett (who is on the 15-day disabled list after hurting his back on a slippery mound in Yankee Stadium on May 18) is unable to “complete his delivery consistently enough” to maintain the rehab schedule they had originally charted.

Tito said: “We don’t want it to lead to anything else.”

*

Kevin Millar was the guest of Don and Jerry in the NESN broadcast booth during the game. I honestly and truly enjoy listening to him talk…he is a hoot.

Hey, Kevin, drop me an e-mail…let’s do some shots some night before a game!

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