4/27 @ Toronto

[riverside sluggers]

http://images.dailyradar.com/media/uploads/ballhype/story_large/2009/07/28/clay_buchholz_red_sox.jpg

Clay Buchholz

 

 

Vs.

 

 

http://bluejays.gearupforsports.com/blog/files/2010/03/shaun-marcum.jpg

Shaun Marcum

 

 

Boston (9-11) at Toronto (10-10)

* Game info: 7:07 pm EDT Tue Apr 27, 2010

* TV: NESN, RSN

 

Help could be on the way soon for the Boston Red Sox’s underachieving starting rotation, but for the time being Clay Buchholz could provide a more immediate impact. Buchholz gets the ball Tuesday when the Red Sox look to win their second straight against the host Toronto Blue Jays.

 

With free-agent acquisition John Lackey joining veterans Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, Boston (9-11) expected its starting pitching to be a strength in 2010. Instead, the rotation has stumbled to a cumulative 5.56 ERA. Buchholz (1-2, 2.70 ERA) has been the most effective of the bunch, with the only ERA lower than 5.09.

 

Josh Beckett was tagged for nine hits and eight runs over a season-low three innings in the series opener. Boston’s bats bailed him out, outslugging the Blue Jays (10-10) 13-12. Both teams need reinforcements for their respective bullpens after Monday’s game, in which 13 pitchers combined to throw 399 pitches over 4 hours, 3 minutes.

 

Toronto acted immediately following the loss, calling up right-hander Josh Roenicke and lefty Rommie Lewis from Las Vegas. “We’d be hurting a little bit if we don’t get some fresh arms,” manager Cito Gaston said. The same could be said for the Red Sox, whose starters have failed to last six innings nine times in 20 games. “We need somebody,” Boston manager Terry Francona said. “We’re a little thin.”

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has been on the disabled list all season due to a strained neck, is expected to take Tim Wakefield’s spot in the rotation beginning Saturday in Baltimore, but the current starters must perform better if the Red Sox are to contend. That includes Buchholz, who has dropped his last two starts. The right-hander struck out a career-high 10 last Thursday against Texas, but also gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings and got charged with a 3-0 defeat. The Red Sox managed six hits - all singles.

 

They tripled that number with 18 hits Monday - their most since getting 23 in an 18-10 victory in Baltimore last Aug. 2. Former Blue Jays shortstop Marco Scutaro had three of the hits, as did Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Adrian Beltre and Jason Varitek.

 

Varitek had four RBIs and raised his batting average to .357, but Victor Martinez is expected to be back behind the plate Tuesday after Varitek caught all nine innings of the opener. Martinez is 4 for 8 with three doubles and a homer against Toronto starter Shaun Marcum (0-1, 4.00), who will try to help the Blue Jays avoid their first four-game losing streak since Sept. 16-20. The right-hander surrendered three runs - all on a first-inning homer by Jose Guillen - in seven innings of Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning loss to Kansas City. He’s 4-1 with a 3.63 ERA in six starts against Boston.

 

Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay went 3 for 5 with a two-run double and a solo homer Monday, helping the Blue Jays record season highs in runs and hits (16). Overbay, who is batting .429 in his last six games, is 6 for 14 lifetime against Buchholz. Vernon Wells has enjoyed far less success versus the Red Sox righty - going 2 for 12 - but he is 8 for 18 with five doubles in his last four games against Boston.

 

Boston has won four straight at Rogers Centre, five of seven overall, and is seeking to clinch its third straight series win.

[yeszir]

"Only ERA lower than 5.09" is pretty sad

[Palodios]

Well, he's been very effective outside of "relative to the rest of the staff" too. Last time he pitched, his ERA was around 1.5, but they left him in too long, and he allowed 3 runs between pitches 100 and 120. Buchholz is going to have a breakout season, I feeeeeel it!

[riverside sluggers]

Clay Buchholz (8 games vs Toronto, 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA-----Career at Rogers Centre in 5 games, 3-2 with a 2.16 ERA)

Fred Lewis, 1 for 4 (.250 avg) K

Aaron Hill, 5 for 21 (.238 avg) HR, RBI, 3 Ks

Adam Lind, 6 for 18 (.333 avg) Double, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, 2 Ks

Vernon Wells, 4 for 16 (.250 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, 3 Walks, 2 Ks

Lyle Overbay, 6 for 17 (.353 avg) Double, RBI, 3 Walks, 3 Ks

Alex Gonzalez, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) Walk, K

Jose Bautista, 3 for 11 (.273 avg) HR, RBI, Walk, 2 Ks

John Buck, 0 for 5, RBI

Travis Snider, 1 for 9 (.111 avg) RBI, Walk, 5 Ks

///

John McDonald, 1 for 6 (.167 avg) Double, RBI, 2 Ks

Jose Molina, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, Walk, K

Randy Ruiz, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) K

 

Shaun Marcum (12 games vs Boston, 4-2 with a 3.36 ERA-----Career at Rogers Centre in 49 games, 13-10 & 1 save with a 3.78 ERA)

Marco Scutaro, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) RBI

Dustin Pedroia, 2 for 16 (.125 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, 2 Ks

Victor Martinez, 4 for 11 (.364 avg) 3 Doubles, HR, 2 RBIs, 3 Walks, K

Kevin Youkilis, 4 for 20 (.200 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, RBI, 9 Ks

J.D. Drew, 3 for 11 (.273 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 4 RBIs, 3 Walks, 4 Ks

David Ortiz, 2 for 15 (.133 avg) 6 Walks, 5 Ks

Adrian Beltre, 7 for 15 (.467 avg) 2 Doubles, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 3 Walks, K

Jeremy Hermida, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) RBI, K

Darnell McDonald, 0 for 3

///

Mike Lowell, 5 for 13 (.385 avg) Double, Triple, 3 RBIs, K

Jason Varitek, 4 for 10 (.400 avg) 3 Walks, 2 Ks

 

Buchholz last season vs Toronto, 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA. At Rogers Centre in 2 games, 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA. This season on the road in 2 games, 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA

 

Marcum last faced Boston in 2008 in 3 games, 2-1 with a 5.17 ERA. This season at home in 3 games, 0-1 with a 3.43 ERA

[TheMino007]

Clay pitches well against Toronto. I could see something like 6 inninngs 1 run tonight and then see the bullpen blow the game again

[BoSox21]

Scutaro - SS

Pedroia - 2B

Martinez - C

Youkilis - 1B

Drew - RF

Ortiz - DH

Beltre - 3B

Hermida - LF

McDonald - CF

 

Buchholz - P

[Chamomile]

Toronto's scored 93 runs but they're 26th in the league with a .232 AVG and 27th in the league with a .305 OBP. Seems like a good match up for a guy like Buchholz with swing and miss stuff who tends to get in trouble when he walks too many batters.

[RWTP24]

"Only ERA lower than 5.09" is pretty sad

 

And people on here want to send him somewhere for a bat. When this is all said and done, buchholz might be the Sox best pitcher this year.

[redsoxrules]

I wouldn't go that far

[RWTP24]

I wouldn't go that far

 

Have you been watching any of the games this year?? Buchholz is the only one with really good stuff so far.

 

I might be the only one on here, but I was pissed when they resigned Beckett without him finishing out this year. I don't think he is going to be the same anymore. I do know why, but he has not looked good for a long time now.

[rhet]

And people on here want to send him somewhere for a bat. When this is all said and done' date=' buchholz might be the Sox best pitcher this year.[/quote']

 

Now don't go jinxing the boy...

[RWTP24]

Now don't go jinxing the boy...

 

Good thing he is not going to be on here reading this. :harhar:

[BoSox21]

I might be the only one on here' date=' but I was pissed when they resigned Beckett without him finishing out this year. I don't think he is going to be the same anymore. I do know why, but he has not looked good for a long time now.[/quote']

 

He was fantastic for most of last season...

[a700hitter]

Scutaro - SS

Pedroia - 2B

Martinez - C

Youkilis - 1B

Drew - RF

Ortiz - DH

Beltre - 3B

Hermida - LF

McDonald - CF

 

Buchholz - P

More McDonald? Why did they bring up Van Every?

[redsoxrules]

Mcdonald has the hot stick , keep him in the lineup until he begins to suck

[RWTP24]

More McDonald? Why did they bring up Van Every?

 

McDonald is hitting the ball very well. That is a good reason to have him in the lineup. Van Every is up because they have an open spot.

[bsox0407]

I might be the only one on here' date=' but I was pissed when they resigned Beckett without him finishing out this year. I don't think he is going to be the same anymore. I do know why, but he has not looked good for a long time now.[/quote']

 

Josh Beckett after five starts last season:

 

2-2, 7.22 ERA, 28.2 IP, 36 H, 24 R, 23 ER, 16 BB, 31 K, .303 OBA

 

Josh Beckett after five starts this season:

 

1-0, 7.22 ERA, 28.2 IP, 37 H, 24 R, 23 ERR, 13 BB, 20 K, .316 OBA

[WhiskeyBreath]

More McDonald? Why did they bring up Van Every?

 

So they could send Reddick down and let him get consistent playing time.

[RWTP24]

Josh Beckett after five starts last season:

 

2-2, 7.22 ERA, 28.2 IP, 36 H, 24 R, 23 ER, 16 BB, 31 K, .303 OBA

 

Josh Beckett after five starts this season:

 

1-0, 7.22 ERA, 28.2 IP, 37 H, 24 R, 23 ERR, 13 BB, 20 K, .316 OBA

 

I read this already.. So what is your point?

 

I remember how bad Beckett sucked at the end last year. He has not been the same for a long time.

 

IMO, Buchholz could be the best pitcher on the Sox at the end of the year. He is the only one so far that has looked good.

[RWTP24]

So they could send Reddick down and let him get consistent playing time.

 

I do not like this move, but I understand why they did it. I would really like to see Reddick get more playing time in the bigs.

[bsox0407]

I read this already.. So what is your point?

 

I remember how bad Beckett sucked at the end last year. He has not been the same for a long time.

 

IMO, Buchholz could be the best pitcher on the Sox at the end of the year. He is the only one so far that has looked good.

 

Both beginnings of the season. Beckett was 17-6 in 2009.

[BoSox21]

I remember how bad Beckett sucked at the end last year. He has not been the same for a long time.

 

3.66 ERA in five September starts last year?

[RWTP24]

Both beginnings of the season. Beckett was 17-6 in 2009.

 

Yes he was, but he really failed the Sox at the end. He is not the same right now and I do not know why. He is giving up way to many HR's and not keeping the ball down.

[WhiskeyBreath]

I would be thrilled to see Vmart actually do some damage at the plate instead of doing damage behind the plate for once this year.

[Dipre]

I would be thrilled to see Vmart actually do some damage at the plate instead of doing damage behind the plate for once this year.

 

Amen to that, brother.

[Palodios]

Vernon Wells earned that RBI. Maybe he'll earn his contract after all.

[WhiskeyBreath]

The pitchers on this team love to hang the CH.

[ORS]

Jesus, Marcum is getting a ridiculous strikezone so far.

[Dipre]

Beltre walked. Victory is ours!

[Palodios]

Err, Ortiz walked, Beltre hit the single.