The Red Sox finished off a nice weekend taking 2 out of 3 from the Yanks and are returning for a 10 game homestand. Clay Buchholz was taking the mound for the Sox and hoped to put their win streak at 3. Buchholz had pitched well his last two starts even though he didn’t get a win in either of them. Buch continued that trend and got his 9th win of the season.
Buchholz pitched well and deep into the game. Of course, it didn’t start off that way. Buchholz gave up a HR to Austin Jackson, the first batter he saw. Buchholz then gave up a double and it looked to be another one of those outings where the Sox starters put us in a huge hole before the Sox bats even have a chance. Buchholz limited the damage though. He got the 3 outs he needed and didn’t let any more runs score. In the 3rd, Buchholz gave up another run to tie the game 2-2 when he gave up a leadoff triple and then an RBI single to Cabrera. Buchholz once again bent, but did not break. After that, Buchholz settled right down and just mowed through the Tigers lineup retiring the next 11 batters in order. Buchholz gave up one final run in the 7th inning when Boesch got on base due to a throwing error by Shoppach and then Buch gave up an RBI double. Buchholz pitched 8 strong innings and was continued to lead the Sox rotation. His line for the night was 108 pitches, 8 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 Ks. In the 9th, the Sox sent Padilla to the mound. Padilla allowed the first two Tigers to reach, however he was able to get the 3 outs he needed and finish off the inning.
The Sox bats got to business against Scherzer as well. After going down 0-1 in the top of the 1st inning, the Sox bats got the lead right back for Buchholz. Ellsbury got a leadoff walk and then Crawford brought him home on an RBI triple. Pedey brought Crawford home with an RBI groundout. Sox 2-1. After the Tigers tied it up, the Sox got back on top when Pedroia hit his 9th HR of the season in the 6th. Sox 4-2. In the 7th, the Sox got another run when Shoppach hit a triple and then was brought home by an RBI single from Ellsbury. You heard me right, Shoppach with his 2nd triple of the season. Sox 5-3. In the 8th, the Sox basically put the game away when Middlebrooks hit a 2 run HR. Scherzer had gotten Middlebrooks to strike out in his 3 previous at bats, however Phil Cook would not have the same luck. That was Middlebrooks 13th HR of the season. Sox 7-3.
The Red Sox are officially one game over 500 and heading into the trade deadline tomorrow. Tomorrow is Beckett vs. Verlander….or is it? We’ll know by 4pm tomorrow.
Red Sox 7 Tigers 3 BOXSCORE
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