The Red Sox had been riding a streak that they desperately wanted to get off, an 8 game losing streak. The Sox had held leads in many of the games, but weren’t able to hold on to the lead into the final stretch. Last night the Sox had the only remaining starter from the World Series team on the mound in Clay Buchholz. Buchholz has done nothing but struggle this year and everyone was hoping he could right the ship in his start last night. Clay did exactly that. He pitched 8 shutout innings and was on the mound in the 9th looking for the complete game. Clay wasn’t able to finish it off and Koji Uehara wasn’t able to get him the win, but it was a dominant effort from Clay none the less.
The Sox and Jays stayed scoreless for most of the game. Buchholz and Happ were both doing their jobs on the mound. It wasn’t until the 5th inning that the Sox bats finally got to Happ and gave Buch a lead he could work with. The top of the 5th inning including two homers, a solo HR by Mookie Betts and then a 2 run homer by Dustin Pedroia. Sox 3-0. Ahh, what a glorious thing it was. Buchholz took the lead and didn’t give it right back either. Buchholz pitched 8 shutout innings and was taking the mound in the 9th in hopes of having a complete game shutout.
Buchholz got one out, but that would be as far as he would get in trying to get his complete game. Buchholz gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases and force John Farrell to come out and get him in favor of closer Koji Uehara. Uehara has struggled lately and it would continue last night. Lind hit an RBI sac grounder to score a run and then Encarnacion came to the plate. He hit a double to deep left to score both Cabrera and Tolleson and tie the game. The only saving grace is that the ball didn’t leave the park and give the Jays the lead. Still 3-3. Koji got the final out of the inning and instead of an easy win, we were now headed to extra innings. The Sox didn’t take long getting back out in front though. The Sox got the go ahead run in the 10th when Holt reached on an infield single, stole 2nd, then stole 3rd and finally came home when Cespedes hit an RBI single to center. Sox 4-3. Craig Breslow came to the mound in the 10th and while he gave up a walk, that would be all he would allow in getting his first save of the season. Koji Uehara gets both the blown save and the win. That’s baseball for you.
Red Sox 4 Blue Jays 3 F/10 BOXSCORE
WP: Uehara (6-4) LP: Sanchez (2-1) SV: Breslow (1)
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