Clay Buchholz' victory Wednesday night ranks with the most important for the Sox this season. His strong 7-inning effort was the difference between a 6-3 road trip and a 5-4 mark that would have ended with a sweep in Chicago. One of the reasons the team has been fun to watch is that they are winning largely on the strength of their pitching staff.
The Sox have begun to hit in the clutch again. Last week's base-clearing double by Will Middlebrooks to beat Tampa Bay was an example of the squad's never-say-it's-over attitude which was so absent in 2012. Though their team average through Wednesday was .262, they had logged 98 doubles, 10 triples and 50 homers. If Jacoby Ellsbury starts hitting consistently and stealing bases again, it will be a huge boost at the top of the order. Yet the feeling remains that their bats alone will not get the Sox into the postseason.
As of now the team's rotation seems to be slowly rounding into shape. Buchholz and Jon Lester are a combined 13-1 with a 2.40 ERA. John Lackey has pitched surprisingly well despite a 2-4 mark. His attitude appears to have done a 180. Even erratic Felix Doubront has shown signs of life in his last two starts.Only Ryan Dempster is on a downer right now, and may be replaced in the rotation by Franklin Morales when he returns. With Andrew Bailey back, the bullpen appears strong again.
The stopper's role on any staff is very important. It is no surprise that the team's recent five-game winning streak began with a fine effort by Lester. It also helped, of course, that Stephen Drew hit a grand slam to spark an 8-run inning. But Sox teams have had many big innings in the past and still gone down to defeat. For the Townies to continue to win, every member of the starting staff should be able to do what Buchholz did Wednesday. If that happens, the Sox should stay in contention despite a tough stretch of games ahead.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
