Don't look now ladies but Clay Buchholz (6-2) appears to have his swagger back in 2012 after a brutal beginning. He has made three quality starts in a row against worthy AL East competition (Blue Jays, Rays, Orioles).
Tonight, he submitted what will undoubtedly be one of the best starts of the season for the Boston Red Sox (29-28, 14-16 home) as he picked up his third career shutout against Baltimore (32-25, 18-12 away), 7-0 at Fenway Park.
It was a desperately needed win for the Red Sox since the Orioles had won the first two games of the series, five straight at Fenway this season and seven in a row dating back to 2011. Buchholz only allowed four hits and even though he had to throw 125 pitches, he had six strikeouts and just one walk. Most importantly, he gave Boston's overworked but effective bullpen a rare night off.
Boston was able to get an ineffective Brian Matusz (5-6) out in two plus innings. Adrian Gonzalez had a two-run double in the first, a run scored on Dustin Pedroia's fielder's choice in the second plus another came across on a throwing error on the same play and Daniel Nava drove in two with a single in the third.
Kevin Youkilis added an RBI double in the eighth which plated Nava (2 hits, 2 walks).
After one lone series against the Phillies in mid-May (Red Sox won 2 of 3 in Philly), Interleague play starts up again tomorrow night as the Nationals (32-23, 1st place NL East) come to Boston for three games. No longer a doormat, the Nationals look like they can make a serious playoff push this season with young talent like Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Strasburg, Gonzalez, Tyler Clippard, etc.
One of the best pitchers in the game gets the ball tomorrow for Washington as Stephen Strasburg (6-1) faces Felix Doubront (6-2) at 7:10 on NESN. Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-0) makes his 2012 debut (a year removed from elbow surgery) as he opposes Gio Gonzalez (7-2) Saturday afternoon (4:05 p.m., NESN) and Jon Lester (3-4) is against Jordan Zimmermann (3-5) on Sunday (1:35 p.m., NESN) in the series finale.
The next five series for the Red Sox are against National League teams: three home (Nationals, Marlins, Braves) and two away (Marlins, Cubs). It will be a tough stretch since of that group, only Chicago is under .500. Boston won't see another American League opponent until June 25 (Blue Jays).
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