A Clay Buchholz Masterpiece, But The Fourth Loss In A Row For The Red Sox

Clay Buchholz pitched the second-best game of his life but ended up with only a loss on his record to show for it. An eighth inning mistake pitch (the pitch was fine, in my eyes!) allowed the Tampa Bay Rays' Akinori Iwamura to hit the go-ahead two run home run and his team beat the Boston Red Sox in a heartbreaker, 2-1. Just look at Clay's pitching line and you'll know what I mean...

IP H R ER BB K HR Season ERA
C. Buchholz 8.0 3 2 2 2 9 1 4.08
L (1-2)

This is what Terry Francona said about his starting rookie pitcher, who I hope is here on the big club to stay. He has progressed incredibly since the early spring training games, and nine times out of ten, he would have won a game like last night's...

“His stuff was electric,” Boston manager Terry Francona said. “He left one breaking ball over the plate.”

Old friend Eric Hinske, who now plays for Tampa, was even more forthcoming in his praise of young Clay. This is what HE had to say after the game...

“God, he was lights out last night,” said Rays designated hitter Eric Hinske. “His changeup, he has such good arm speed. It was different from what it looked like playing with him. There’s not a lot of guys who can throw that over-the-top changeup that looks just like his fastball. It’s pretty crazy."

Peter here. I like that kind of crazy, Eric! But it's obvious that the Red Sox could not get anything going against Rays' starter Edwin Jackson. Jacoby Ellsbury collected two of the five Boston hits and drove in their single run. He's getting better and better as April nears May, too. But now the Sox have lost four in a row, not so bad when you consider the flu bug that has raped the team top to bottom. Their stopper will have to earn his title today, though. It will be Josh Beckett vs. James Shields this afternoon in the getaway game down in Florida. And after that, it's "Hello Boston, here we come" time, and a blessed day off tomorrow. A win today will take the sting out of the past two games and will make the northward flight home a much better one. And gradually players who were ill, and there were too many of 'em to list here, are getting better. A little home cooking and a Monday off will do wonders, not to mention (but I will) the victory that we need today. So have a great Sunday and tune into NESN or the radio network. Maybe the lineup will back up "Josh Baseball" with some runs, some crooked numbers on the scoreboard.

Congratulations go out to Clay Buchholz for his stunning eight innings of work. Hey Clay, keep pitching like that and we'll be fine. GREAT JOB. And more hearty backslaps go to our Gold Glove first baseman, Kevin Youkilis. He did THIS last night, borrowed from the Boston Herald, with my thanks...

"By successfully handling second baseman Dustin Pedroia throw on Eric Hinske’s groundball for the third out of the seventh inning in the Red Sox' 2-1 loss to the Rays last night, Youkilis broke McGinnis’ nearly 86-year-old major league record for most consecutive errorless chances (1,700) by a first baseman. Youkilis’ total now stands at 1,701, plus he holds the major league record for most consecutive games without an error for a first baseman at 205 and counting."

Wow Youk, you are amazing (solo mini-standing ovation time)! And so, my Constant Readers, if you have time, click on the title of this post for the Sox homepage of the aforementioned Boston Herald. You can take your pick from articles about last night's tough loss AND Youk's amazing record-breaking play at first base, a place he has made all his own. There is no better player anywhere on the planet defensively at first. Case closed. Have a great Sunday, and as always, BE WELL. Go get'em Josh. GO SOX. FOREVER.