Clay Buchholz had the dubious distinction of having “back to back” starts due to the All Star Break. Buch pitched wonderfully before the break and hoped to continue that trend.
Buchholz gave up a solo run in the 1st inning, but the Sox got it right back for him in the bottom of the 1st by way of a Brock Holt RBI. Buchholz kept trucking along until he got himself in a little bit of trouble in the 4th inning. Buch have up 2 runs in the 4th and then another run in the 5th to have the Royals up 4-1.
Other than Holt in the 1st, the Sox weren’t having much success against the former Ray “Big Game” James Shields. Shields took the mound in the 6th with a 4-1 that looked pretty safe. However, Shields wouldn’t last the inning and the Sox would end up with the lead. Shields gave up a 2 run HR to Bogaerts to have the Sox within a run. That had to feel great for Xander who has been struggling at the plate for much of this season. Shields was pulled from the game with 2 outs and a man on. Downs came in and John Farrell decided to go with Jonny Gomes as a pinch hitter. Gomes continued to be clutch off the bench and hit a 2 run bomb to suddenly give the Sox and Buchholz the lead. The bullpen took care of everything else diwn the stretch to give the Sox the win. The layer innings consisted of Badenhop, Miller, Tazawa and Uehara. That win coming out of the break was just one game, but it made me imagine the Sox being buyers instead of sellers as the trade deadline approaches.
Red Sox 5 Royals 4 BOXSCORE
WP: Buchholz (5-5) LP: Downs (0-3) SV: Uehara (19)
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