Clay Buchholz Delivers Again As Red Sox Grind Out 2-1 Win

In the midst of a pitching controversy that has the Red Sox so called number one and two starters performing like high school girls on a softball team, Clay Buchholz has calmly weathered the storms and provided just what the ball club needs; a reliable starter to calm the losing ways.  Buchholz was at it again on Tuesday night, throwing his second straight gem of a game that helped the Red Sox grind out a much needed 2-1 win over the Texas Rangers and snap their four game losing skid.

Buchholz went seven strong innings, giving up only four hits and one earned run to the high octane Rangers.  We’ve seen this Texas club lay a Texas size smackdown on our beloved Red Sox all year long, but this night belonged to number eleven of the visitors.  In the end Buchholz walked three batters and struck out only one en route to his ninth win of the season.

The game had an ironic twist to it when Mike Aviles committed a fielding error in the bottom of the third and although a run didn’t score, Aviles found redemption in the top of the ninth when the stage was set.

After Daniel Nava Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked, Aviles singled in the winning run with two out off Rangers closer Joe Nathan.  And it wasn’t a frozen rope to the outfield, but rather a bloop single to right-center, just over the shortstop’s glove.  It was the kind of break the Red Sox needed in what turned out to be a huge win.

One more game in Arlington and wouldn’t it be bitter sweet if the Sox could sneak one more W out of Texas.  Let’s not get ahead of ourselves considering Josh Beckett is taking the mound and we all know what he has, or hasn’t done as of late.  Beckett sometimes gets up for the big games and considering he’s “playing at home” maybe this will be one of those occasions.  Lord knows he’s slightly overdue.