No Runs-No Hits-No Errors...NO HITTER!!

WOW! Clay Buchholz, in his second big league start for the Boston Red Sox, threw a no hitter in an undescribably exciting game at Fenway Park Saturday evening. Utilizing pinpoint control with his fastball to set up his devastating off speed stuff, he totally mesmermized the Baltimore Orioles. The final score was 10-0 in favor of the good guys. And it was a team effort, with huge base hits by Big Papi, Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis and sparkling defensive plays by Coco Crisp and Dustin Pedroia, who ranged behind the second base bag, sprawling and snaring the ball, quickly getting to his feet and throwing to Youk "as hard as I could." The bang bang play at first was just in time to nail the headfirst sliding Miguel Tejada, who gestured wildly in the direction of Peds, not believing what had just happened. Hey Miggy, BELIEVE! That play came in the 7th inning, and from that point on, everyone knew something special was happening, and the air became even more electric. Great job Clay Buchholz, future star pitcher for that team from Boston. Oh, there will be a REPLAY of the entire game immediately following the post-game show tonight!

The lead over the Yankees stands at 5 games after their 9-6 victory over the Devil Rays, but the eyes and hearts of Red Sox Nation and Red Sox International are clearly basking in the glow ignited by Clay's wonderful Saturday evening. I have to tell you, I watched the game highlights this early Sunday morning on NESN, and the tears of joy came yet again.

Click on the title above for more details of this remarkable night, and scroll down for the entire game box score. I'll end this post just as I started it, the ONLY way. WOW!

Baltimore
AB R H RBI BB K LOB Season Avg
B. Roberts 2b 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .302
C. Patterson cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
N. Markakis rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .293
M. Tejada ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
K. Millar dh 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 .260
A. Huff 1b 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .269
S. Moore 3b 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .000
J.R. House c 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .167
J. Payton lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .257
Totals 26 0 0 0 3 9 6
Batting
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Payton 1.
Team LOB - 3.
Base Running
Picked Off - B Roberts (1st base, C Buchholz).
Fielding
PB - J House.
DP - 1 (M Tejada-B Roberts-A Huff)

Boston
AB R H RBI BB K LOB Season Avg
J. Lugo ss 5 2 2 0 0 0 3 .237
D. Pedroia 2b 5 2 2 0 0 0 0 .322
D. Ortiz dh 2 1 1 3 3 0 1 .320
M. Lowell 3b 5 2 3 1 0 1 2 .329
K. Youkilis 1b 4 2 2 3 1 1 2 .291
J. Varitek c 4 0 0 0 1 1 6 .259
B. Kielty rf 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .262
J. Ellsbury lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .350
C. Crisp cf 4 0 0 1 1 0 5 .266
B. Moss lf-rf 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 .200
Totals 37 10 14 10 7 5 19
Batting
2B - D Ortiz (41, G Olson); J Lugo (31, R Cherry); M Lowell (34, R Cherry); J Ellsbury (2, B Burres).
HR - K Youkilis (15, 6th inning off R Cherry 2 on, 2 Out).
RBI - C Crisp (49), D Ortiz 3 (93), M Lowell (95), K Youkilis 3 (75), J Ellsbury 2 (3).
2-out RBI - D Ortiz 3, M Lowell, K Youkilis 3, J Ellsbury 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 2, J Varitek 1, M Lowell 1, J Lugo 2.
GIDP - C Crisp.
Team LOB - 10.
Base Running
SB - C Crisp (22, 2nd base off G Olson/J House)

Baltimore
IP H R ER BB K HR Season ERA
G. Olson (L, 1-3) 5.1 7 4 4 5 4 0 7.22
R. Cherry 0.1 3 4 4 1 0 1 108.00
B. Burres 2.1 4 2 2 1 1 0 5.59

Boston
IP H R ER BB K HR Season ERA
C. Buchholz (W, 2-0) 9.0 0 0 0 3 9 0 1.80
HBP - N Markakis (by C Buchholz)

Pitches-strikes - G Olson 104-59; R Cherry 27-15; B Burres 46-24; C Buchholz 115-73.
Ground balls-fly balls - G Olson 5-7; R Cherry 1-0; B Burres 1-5; C Buchholz 6-11.
Batters faced - G Olson 27; R Cherry 5; B Burres 12; C Buchholz 30.
Game Details
Umpires: HP--Joe West. 1B--Ed Rapuano. 2B--Ed Hickox. 3B--C.B. Bucknor.
Time: 3:02.
Attendance: 36,819.
Weather: 75 degrees, clear.