|
By BRENDAN MCGAIR Sports writer PAWTUCKET – From a health standpoint, Clay Buchholz says he’s fine. The broken nail on his right middle finger wasn’t an issue in the four-plus innings he worked Sunday night in Pawtucket’s 11-1 beatdown of Rochester before a holiday gathering of 10,149.
Relying mostly on fastballs, Buchholz threw 63 pitches (38 strikes). He gave up a run on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
Buchholz, who officially began a 30-day rehab assignment, already knows what’s in store. His next start is Friday in Durham. The next course of action will be mapped out at the appropriate time, but with no spots in Boston’s starting rotation currently open, Buchholz may very well be housed at McCoy Stadium this summer.
“If I need to stay here longer, so be it. I’ll be ready whenever [Boston] gives me a call,” said Buchholz, who made eight starts with the PawSox last season. “You can’t really wonder what it’s going to be like five days later. You’ve got to make the best of every outing that you go out there and throw.”
Asked if would be disappointed if his stay in the minors would turn into something beyond a couple of rehab starts, Buchholz replied “I’m pitching, still playing baseball. If it was something like me getting hurt and not being able to pitch at all, I’d be more upset if that was the case. I’m still in Triple-A, still one phone call away.”
By design, Buchholz spent the early portion of the outing establishing his fastball before mixing in his curve and change-up later on. His first breaking offering didn’t come until pitch No. 11.
Getting him to throw more fastballs is something the Red Sox would like to see more of from Buchholz. He was high with several of his initial mid 90s offerings (according to the stadium reading), but eventually started to see a dip that resulted in more swings and misses.
“I got hurt throwing a two-seam fastball and put a lot of pressure on it,” said Buchholz. “They wanted me to throw 60 percent fastballs. There were a lot of off-speed counts that I could have gotten some misses, but I stuck with the fastball.
“I guess I fell in love with off-speed stuff, but big league hitters catch on,” Buchholz continued. “They have video to see what kind of routine you develop, regardless if it’s hitting or pitching.”
Of the 27 pitches Buchholz had through two innings, 13 were balls. The ratio improved there after, Buchholz’s fourth inning consisted of 13 pitches and nine strikes. “They want me to establish the fastball early, then work in the off-speed stuff the second or third time through the lineup,” he said.
Buchholz was originally slated to work four innings/65 pitches. After four, he was at 55 pitches. After a conversation with PawSox manager Ron Johnson, Buchholz was cleared to return to at least start the fifth.
After an eight pitch at-bat with Garrett Jones, which ended with the Rochester outfielder hitting a double, Johnson came to get Buchholz. The only run he allowed came in the third when the Red Wings’ Chris Basak led off with a triple, coming around on a single from Tommy Watkins.
“I knew he felt real good because I went up to him (after the fourth) and told him he had 10 pitches left,” said Johnson. “He said ‘Let me use them.’ That means he was feeling pretty good.”
The PawSox certainly put a hurting on the Red Wings’ pitching staff, scoring 34 runs in four games. The locals slugged three home runs as part of an 11-hit attack.
Chris Carter jump-started the in-game fireworks with a two-run home run in the first. Brandon Moss smacked a two-run shot in the fifth and now has six hits in four games since rejoining the PawSox (31-20) last Thursday.
The most prodigious round tripper belonged to Dusty Brown. The Pawtucket catcher sent a screaming shot out to center field that bounced off the roof of the concession stand. The three-run shot was Brown’s third. He also threw out a would-be base stealer in the first.
***
EXTRA BASES: Here’s the latest regarding Jed Lowrie. The infielder took grounders and hit off a tee from both sides Sunday. Johnson expects to error on the side of caution, meaning Lowrie’s target date to return will be next weekend in Durham. Johnson previously mentioned he’d hoped to get Lowrie back in time for the Scranton series. … Speaking of the Baby Bombers, the minor-league version of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry hits McCoy Stadium this afternoon. The pitching match-ups for the series go as follows: today is Charlie Zink (5-2, 2.47 ERA) against the oft-injured Jeff Karstens (0-1, 5.40). Tuesday is Kyle Snyder (1-1, 3.71 ERA) coming off the DL against Dan Giese (4-2, 1.01 ERA). Wednesday will be Devern Hansack (2-5, 5.55 ERA) against Kei Igawa (3-4, 3.83 ERA). Thursday’s series finale brings Dan McCutchen (0-1, 4.26 ERA) and David Pauley (6-2, 3.09 ERA). … Today’s game will be featured on NESN with Seekonk native Ken Ryan providing the color. Afterwards the PawSox will hold a Fan Festival in which several of the players will be on hand for autographs. … Johnson mentioned relievers Lee Gronkiewicz (elbow) and Lincoln Holdzkom (right bicep strain) are progressing with their respective throwing programs and could return soon. |
Horoscope
