May 19, 2008
Boston 6, Kansas City 2
With a four game winning streak on the line, the Red Sox were looking to make a statement against the Royals as the Yankees continue to slip further back in the rearview mirror.
"We don't necessarily obsess with them", Jason Varitek said before the series opener with Kansas City, "but we are aware of were they are, just like we are with Tampa, Baltimore and the Jays. Today, we're focused on the Royals and [Gil] Meche."
Clay Buchholz, who has been getting extra tutorage under Varitek this season, continued to prove his naysayers wrong with seven and a third innings of strong pitching in getting his fourth win of the season.
"Clay barely got into any trouble tonight, that's what we want from him," pitching coach John Farrel said. "Clay just needs to let his god-given ability take over and follow 'Tek's lead and he'll due fine out there."
A pair of back-to-back singles from Juio Lugo and Jason Varitek in the third got Boston on the board first. J.D. Drew led off the inning with a double to left and was followed by a one-out walk to Kevin Youkilis before Lugo knocked in Drew for the game's first run. Varitek followed on the very next pitch with a long single off the wall that brought home both Youkilis and Lugo without a thrown.
Sloppy play in the 5th cut the lead to two for Boston. After a lead-off double by Mike Aviles, Kevin Youkilis committed his second error of the year at first base, bobbling a throw from Dustin Pedroia long enough to allow Jason Smith to reach base and Aviles to advance to third. Facing Kelly Shoppach, Buchholz bounced a breaking ball in front of the plate allowing the runner at third to score easily. Regaining his composure after a visit to the mound from Varitek, Buchholz proceed to strike out Shoppach, Jose Guillen and Esteban German to end the inning.
The Sox got the run right back in the bottom of the inning, when Varitek and Coco Crisp both put line drives into the right field corner for doubles. The two teams traded runs once again in the eight, as Lee Gronkiewicz surrendered just his third run in 25 innings this season to earn the save.
For his career, Buchholz is now 7-1 in 12 appearances, 11 starts.
W: Buchholz (4-0) L: Meche (3-5) SV: Gronkiewicz (1)
Player of the Game: Clay Buchholz (7.1 IP, 6 Hs, 2 Rs, 6 Ks', BB, 109 PI)
Around the League:
...Los Angeles signed MR Joe Beimel (16g, 1-2, 6.33 ERA, 12.1 IP, 10 BB, 9 K, 1.59 WHIP, -2.9 VORP) to a 1-year contract extension worth $820k...Arizona placed 2B Orlando Hudson (.329 avg., 8 2Bs, 14 RBIs, 18 Rs, 1.037 OPS, 12.4 VORP) on the 60-day disabled list...