Buchholz tagged with a loss
Posted by Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff June 23, 2009 01:49 PM
With all the attention on John Smoltz's return to the majors this week, the Clay Buchholz watch has taken a back seat. But Buchholz was back on the mound for the PawSox last night in a minor league marquee matchup with Rays lefthander Scott Kazmir, who is on a rehab assignment with the Durham Bulls.
Buchholz, who has been dominating Triple-A batters all year, lost for the first time this year as Pawtucket came up short against Durham, 3-1. The loss dropped Buchholz to 5-1 on the season.
The 24-year-old righty lasted just 3 2/3 innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits to go along with four strikeouts and five walks. Buchholz threw 82 pitches in the outing, with just 43 strikes.
Buchholz hopes to rejoin the Red Sox but understands that he put himself in the position he now finds himself in ... waiting for a call up to Boston.
"I dug my grave, so I've got to lay in it," Buchholz said. "But my time's coming. I just have to keep doing the things I've been doing and keep up my success, and my time will come."
Buchholz kicked a bat when he reached the dugout during his exit from the game.
Kazmir, making his second rehab start since he went on the disabled list on May 21 with a right quadriceps strain, got the win after giving up just one run on five hits in six innings.
Jed Lowrie, who is with the PawSox on a rehab assignment, played shortstop last night. Lowrie was 0-for-3 and is now hitless in four at-bats during his Triple-A stint.
In the fourth inning, Lowrie threw a ball into the Durham dugout while trying to complete a double play and the Bulls added an unearned run.
A turnout of 8,666 watched the series finale in Durham, with team officials saying walk-up sales totaled nearly 4,000. The Bulls announced the four-game series attendance of 40,339, setting a ballpark record.
"It's amazing, Boston brings fans everywhere," Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo said.
Information from the Times-News in Burlington, N.C. and the Raleigh News & Observer was used in this report.